LOKPAL POLITICS: THE MAKING OF THE ONSLAUGHT

Though the whole nation is a stakeholder in corruption,

but the stakes vary to the detriment of the nation.

The movement for Jan Lokpal Bill to become an act was in full swing. The Drafting Committee for the bill, for the first time in the history of Independent India, comprised members of Civil Society. Though the mannerism of the Hazare Campaign suffers with serious anomalies and lacunae, it is indeed a positive step towards curtailing the Corruption. A few misgivings from the Campaign are that the 5 members of Civil Society have not been elected in a democratic manner and the misunderstanding of Representative System of Democracy by Hazare. But at the end of the day, it deserves more praise than criticism because these are the people who were willing and stood up to change the status quo.

The Lokpal bill has been there since 1968 but apart from 1985 when it was withdrawn by the government it has never been passed by the Parliament, be it due its dissolution or MPs’ harangue on strict law v. personal interests. This time also the progress made by the Campaign was not liked by some Political Personalities or they saw in it an opportunity to reaffirm their Political affiliations.

To talk of the latest developments, the CD released by Amar Singh claimed to be one containing Shanti Bhushan’s secret conversation with Mulayam Singh Yadav has a very dirty political tinge attached to it. Whether the CD is doctored or original, the fuss about that is going on between Forensic Labs. The CD says something about Shanti Bhushan’s assurance to Mulayam Singh about Prashant Bhushan’s (his son) capability to obtain a favourable judgement from a judge by bribing him in a case concerning him; but is it not an issue concerning the probity of a Judge? A politician who is in the knowledge of such facts but exposes these only when he can extract a personal benefit out of it for himself or his political party sets the lowest example possible for the Country’s Politics. It tantamounts to abetment of corruption in Judiciary.

When Amar Singh targeted Bhushans for undervaluation of their properties, obtaining plots from UP CMs discretionary quota et al, the only thing which defeated the understanding of the common man was the reason for withholding of this information by him till date. There was a reasonable suspicion that there might have been a nexus he might have had with these kind of murky dealing taking place all over the place which so debilitate and effeminate him to bring these to fore never but on the advent of an opportunity surpassing the fruits of keeping the info under the lock.

When Digvijay Singh targeted the weakness of Santosh Hegde as a member of the Civil Society in Drafting Committee, citing his laxity in the perusal of the investigations as the Karnataka Lokaytukta against the State’s CM Shree B.S. Yediurappa, he should have known the ambit of Lokayukta Powers. Ignorance is not expected from the people who are supposed to eliminate it.

Finally to conclude, this opportunistic brand of politics will do nothing but wreak havoc for the development of the Country. The Country is in dire need of a strong anti-graft statute and if the movement which has shown the capability of giving it to the nation breaks up, disembarks or gives it up, then the future looks very bleak......

NO DEVELOPMENT IN WEST BENGAL UNDER LEFT GOVERNMENT

The demolition of 'Adarsh'...

Its a very recent news that court proceeding for the Adarsh building will be held on 27th April. Mumbai High Court will listen to all the testimonies, views from the the Adarsh building committee and also from the environmentalists. Its a simple phenomenon that even if you demolish Adarsh society then also there can be no revival of the enviornment.

There is no doubt that it was one of the hottest issues in the winter session of Maharashtra legislature. Adarsh issue together with Lavasa city issue. The building may be demolished and there will be certain other losses now such as-

i) Cost of the construction.

ii) Building material which cannot be used again.

iii)Cost of architecture, maps and blueprint.

iv)Loss of time used in legislature because even a session of legislature requires money.

These are just few losses which I have stated here. There might be many more losses which may not have not come in light. All this is because of politics. If the Adarsh is the result of the ruling party then the opposition desperately wants it to be demolished.

It's a simple principle that if any project is started by the ruling party which requires some tenure of 8 years (for example) and if the opposition party comes to power and they have negative image of politics then they will surely try to stop the project and finally when it will come to the light of the people and other committees then the ruling party will blame to the x-ruling government.

The committee will declare some time to submit the report. Before the committee is formed there is politics in the legislature followed by the ratification process. Its a hard core process.

Finally, the loss is incurred by the government in the financial terms and partly the time for development is lost. If the government suffers the financial loss then who indirectly suffers. It is suffered by the people who pay tax.

Loss of people, is the loss of the democracy. Loss of democracy= result of negative politics (Demolition of 'adarsh')

Demolition of Adarsh in two means (one is Adarsh society and other one is inner virtues).

Thanks.

Let the spirit of democracy be in positive means.

Raj Agrawal

COALITION POLITICS: WHERE ARE THE BENEFITS?

Going by the basics of coalition politics, it is considered to be an improvised institution of checks and balances in a multi-party democracy. It is expected to preclude the dictatorial wielding of power likely to be practiced by any one political party if incase it gets the popular mandate. In Indian context arrival of Coalition Politics was necessitated by strengthening bond between incumbency and Congress; the bond which was seen as a potential threat to India as a democracy and federation.

But recently, our Prime Minister made a remark which meant that 2G Scam was a result of coalition politics. Agreed that it was a result of coalition politics. But then I have a few questions in this regard:

1. Was the government aware beforehand that it was making unethical compromises?

2. Does the desire to stay in power for this government supersedes the principles of governance that demand the obeisance of the government to the nation and its people prior to any coalition partner?

3. Why does this admission made post the vociferous and vehement claims of innocence of Raja?

4. If the CBI, judiciary, opposition and the media would have succumbed to the government’s denial of the scam (which I know was least likely to happen, but still there was a probability) , then how would our PM have imitated Caesar’s wife (his standard of probity) ?

Finally, where do we have the benefits of coalition politics when the power is shared in a manner so as not to check despotism but to share the perpetration of despotism?

I was unable to find an answer to it, if you can, then please let me know.....

Will India get rid of corrupt politicians?

Dear friends!

When I was in 9th standard, I had one subject called 'Democratic Politics'. CBSE had just started using cartoons (just to increase interest of students) in their books and just as experiment one cartoon was there which stated that 'Canada's people believe that 98% politicians should be kept in a car and threw away in valley'. What I believe ultimately that how can Canadians think that their next generation politicians would not be corrupt.

As compared to India, Canada is much developed country and I also suppose for now that politicians of India are more corrupt (which indeed are). If we performed the same thing which Canadian people think then I think would not work. It is nearly impossible to get rid of corrupt politicians.

Today I had gone to have four wheeler driving learning licence. After the completion of one month finally we get permanent licence and for that we have to show our capability by driving the vehicle. I had a brief talk with the people there. They are at sea whether they would get permanent licence or not. Passing the test of capability is in the hands of inspector there.

They said me that if they failed in the test then they have to give bribe to inspector. Sometimes there were instances that candidates drove vehicle correctly but they failed as the inspector wanted to purchase gold bangles for his wife.

At one time, we have corruption of nearly 74,000 crores at CWG and other instance we have corruption of 100-200-1000 also. So in future when economics would be taught then a line would be there 'Bharat ek rishwat pradhan desh hain. Yaha sau rupaye se lekar lakh crore rupaye ki rishwat tak bhrastachar kiya jata hai' in English which means 'India has variety of corruptions from Rs.100 to 100000 crores.

Thanks,

Take care,

Raj Agrawal