Forget Anna Hazare. The Jan Lokpal movement can go to hell for all Icare. Let us just look at the issues over which the battle between theGovernment and us citizens is being fought. And then lets decidewhere we want to stand, each one of us, on the issue of corruption.
The first question is: Does corruption and bribery hurt you? AndIf they do,do you want a solution for that?
If your answer is yes to that, do you thinksuch a solution lies with an independent authority? Or do you think a
corrupt Government can fight corruption on its own, and within itself with its ownranks? If your answer is NO to that, then we need to create anindependent institution to fight corruption.Correct?
Well, thatsprecisely what Anna is asking for. He is asking for a Lokpal that theGovernment cannot influence or can manipulate with. This is the first battle.
The second battle is over four things.
- Should the Prime Ministercome under the purview of the Lokpal? Almost everyone I know thinks heshould. An honest Prime Ministerwouldn'tcare. But a dishonest will and must be monitered.Or else, we will have piles of cases like Bofors that will neverever be resolved.
- Should the Members of Parliamentthencome underLokpal? I have not met a single person till date who thinks that ourMPs are so honest that they need not be supervised. My guess is if areferendum is ever taken, Anna will get a 100% yes to this question,given what people think of our politicians and the standards ofprobity in public life.
- The third question is even more obvious: Doesall the public servants need to come under the Lokpal? My guess is Indiasanswer will be yes, yes, and yes. Every day, in every area of our personallife and atwork, we are constantly harassed, intimidated and extorted by corruptGovernment officials. The poorer one is, the worse is the torture. So 'YES', every public servant, every Government officer must come underthe Lokpal.
- Question four:Who should give permission to file an FIRagainst a corrupt judge? If the Lokpal can look into corruptioncharges against the PM, the MPs and Government servants, isnt it onlylogical to expect it to do the same against judges?
And final battle is over an even simpler thing: TheCitizens Charter. Should every Government office have such a Charterwhich will clearly state which officer will do what work and in howmuch time? And should an officer who refuses to do his work in time orasks for a bribe to move a file be punished? The Government says acharter is fine but Government servants must not be penalised if theydont do their work! Anna believes that officers not doing their workin time amounts to corruption and must face the same treatment. Isntit rather obvious what India thinks about this?
Do we really need a referendum on these simple, basic issues? Iseriously doubt it. Every Indian will endorse the idea of a Lokpal asAnna and his team have envisioned it, with the help of thousands ofIndians who have contributed online to the process of drafting thebill.
Yes, there are genuine fears that we should not create yet anothermonster out there, who will make life more difficult for us than italready is. But even that has been addressed rather adroitly by Annasteam. It is a complex process, true but it also ensures that thechoice is wisely made. And what if there are charges against the
Lokpal? Well, theres a provision there too. You can go straight tothe Supreme Court and seek justice out there.
So why are we arguing so much over this Bill? Why is the Governmentdigging its heels in and refusing to listen to us citizens? Why mustAnna go on a hunger strike all over again to press home the point thatcorruption must be fought back?
I guess its a question of both egoand fear. No one likes to give up the power they have, and certainlynot the Government. In fact, its always trying to interfere more andmore in our lives, grab more and more authority, more and more space.And fear? Well, I guess we all know the answer to that.
This ispossibly the most corrupt Government we have ever had. and It has a goodreason to be scared.
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