SAVE THE NATION
Anna Hazare’s movement and the ongoing fast for the
enactment of the Jan Lok Pal Bill, as a legitimate instrument for reining in
corruption in the government, public life, business, lower level mundane administration
and other such areas of concern; is assuming the dimensions of a social upsurge
and is likely to draw in the youth into its fold, like never before. This must
become a cause of concern for the government and the politicians, who have as
yet been dilly dallying and prevaricating in the matter, by the use of the possible
shenanigans of parliamentary procedures and technicalities. The time taken to
build up a consensus in the matter has been inordinately long and therefore
suggests a lack of conviction towards the same, and makes the intent on the
part of the politicians and the government suspect. Whether the government will
succumb to the public pressure thus generated by the enormity of the ongoing movement,
is a matter of speculation and cannot be predicted with certainty. However,
what is certain to happen, is the government and the politicians becoming more
bold and intransigent, to not yield to any ingress into their turf of
parliamentary privilege and supremacy, by those who are not otherwise eligible
by constitutional right. For any good to come out from the movement, it has to
become pan Indian in its perception and efficacy and must therefore rely
heavily on the power of the ballot which the people exercise, to elect their
choice of representatives and the consequential government.
Elections in the country, at most levels of the
democratic framework, are to a large extent controlled by money power. National
and regional political parties have relevance in our elections, because other
than the collective philosophy which distinguishes their outlook, the expense
is prohibitive. And hence, for anyone to get into politics without being a part
of the established outfits is rather difficult and farfetched. Those who do it
on their own are few and far between and ultimately lose their individuality by
becoming a part of one or the other, whether in government or outside it. Therefore,
is it any surprise that even a tall social leader like Anna Hazare is wary of
joining politics, which demands large sums of money to survive and get elected?
It is the curse as also the blessing of money, which to a great extent lures
the credulous voter to affect his choice for their representative. Also, the
fact that those who are interested in governance do not exercise their
franchise. Thus we by and large, get the government elected by those who are
not interested in governance. This, by and large is the prevailing reality in
our country, as it obtains today.
When Anna Hazare talks about his plans for the coming
general elections, which under normal circumstances are scheduled in 2014, it makes
me rather uncertain and unsure about his understanding of how the system works?
To transform the support base of people for his movement, into the likely vote
bank of selfless and inspired candidates, who desire to contest elections, will
be a disaster by any stretch of imagination. Should, the stalwarts of the movement
even think of this stratagem to bring about a change for the future, they
should be well advised to immediately drop this notion and think afresh. Because,
otherwise, they will be sadly disappointed and their energy wasted in doing
something, which they should have never even attempted. The politicians and the
government are secure in this reality about the Indian democratic system, and
it is this which makes them condescending to suggest that ‘we will wear out the
social activists and their movement’. Money power and keeping the coffers of
the political parties ever growing by manufacturing scams of various degrees
and sizes, is the recipe to presage political power and administrative control.
The polity of this country is aware of this truth and there are few exceptions
to this culture. The constraints of coalition politics as an available excuse
to ignore deeds of corruption, is nothing more than a lie which travels half
the globe before truth puts its boots on; and when it does the lies gets
caught. This is what we have seen happening in our country in the past three to
four years. There are even very strong rumours in circulation, that to avoid
the continuous demand for bringing back black money deposited in foreign banks,
a powerful politician has opened two international banks in Scotland and some
other country abroad, which will now become the conduit for delivering and
holding the slush money. The government dithering in its action to disclose the
accounts of the guilty, that have stacked their ill gotten personal and party
wealth in the tax free havens, could be explained by this ruse. That is the
power of money and its accompanying political power, which it begets.
Therefore, Anna Hazare should be well advised to continue
what he is adept and capable of doing, and not get sucked into harbouring any
thoughts of the movement transiting into a political adventure, in the near or
even distant future. The political choices which the people have in the States
and the Centre will continue to hold sway and it is there that the difference
should be made. By and large the choices are similar in their capacity to loot
and rampage national wealth and the tax payer’s money, but the idea of exercising
a choice and voting out a government, is the only leverage which the people
have. The ongoing movement must be replaced by a call for a revolution in the
country, which brings the Armed Forces into power at the Centre, with an
arrangement to continue with democracy and the federal structure in the States,
as premised in the Constitution. This could be a via media to think and develop
upon for Anna Hazare. The modalities for this arrangement can be worked out by
the Constitutional, Judicial, Political, Administrative, Armed Forces and
Social Sciences experts, who can do this as an enduring service to the Nation
and its People.
‘Rebel With A Cause’
Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal
+919410900051
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