by ANAND TELTUMBDE
What a momentous month. In quick succession to the “India on the Top of the World” euphoria created by the Cricket World Cup win came the “India Wins the War against Corruption”, brought to us by the 73-yearold Gandhian crusader from Ralegaon Siddhi, Anna Hazare, and, of course, his soul mates. His 98-hour fast unto death at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to demand civil society participation in drafting the Jan Lokpal Bill made the government crawl to accept all his demands. More than the win, the manner in which this fast enthused and galvanised young people across the country in idealistic fervour was indeed encouraging. It was the first time in two decades that anyone had been able to mobilise support on the issue of corruption on such a large scale. Indeed, the mobilisation of nationwide opinion against the “scam a day” kind of corruption is a great feat this episode accomplished, but to think of it as a solution, actual or potential, is to trivialise the issue.
Not What Meets the Eye
The Lokpal Bill is based on the concept of an Ombudsman in western democracies, who oversees the conduct of public servants. The first draft of the bill was presented in 1969 and was even passed by the Lok Sabha. However, by the time it reached Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha was dissolved. Thereafter, it was presented in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 2001, 2005 and 2008 by various governments but remained in limbo for one or the other reason. There was thus an agreement within the polity on instituting a Lokpal and the Congress Party as the leader of the current United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had, in its election manifesto, promised to bring it on to the statute. The bill was accordingly put up before the National Advisory Council formed under the chairpersonship of Sonia Gandhi. Meanwhile there has been pressure from various civil society groups for including their representatives in the drafting committee along with politicians. It had its effect; the working committee on transparency, responsibility and control had decided on 26 February to review the bill and in its meeting on 4 April had consultations with the representatives from civil society under the leadership of Aruna Roy. It had discussions on the drafts prepared by civil society groups and reached agreements on many a point, and was slated for a further review. The next meeting was scheduled on 28 April. In this context, the sudden decision of Anna Hazare to go on an indefinite fast smacks of something else being behind the entire episode.
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(Thanks to Mukul Dube)