People’s euphoria is no panacea

The euphoria of anger and frustration with the government in power created on streets among the people all over the country for the last five days under the leadership of famous Gandhian and social activist Anna Hazare, who is sitting on fast unto death at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi against rampant corruption at all levels of government departments and making a Jan Lokpal. Government’s changing colours like chameleon from the morning to evening on the August 16 by first arresting Anna for peaceful protest and then releasing the Gandhian under immense public pressure was witnessed all over the country and abroad, and the UPA government turned out to be a laughing stock. Team Anna is vehemently opposed to Government's Lokpal Bill, which is lying before the Parliamentary Standing Committee. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, law and Justice looking into the Lok Pal Bill has invited suggestions from individuals and organisations. The Committee headed by Abhishek Manu Singhvi has decided to invite memoranda containing views, suggestions from the individuals and organisations interested in the subject matter of the Bill and also to hear select oral evidence on the subject matter of the Bill.Those select oral evidence on the subject matter of the Bill. Those desirous of submitting memoranda to the Committee have been asked to send letter within fifteen days of publication of the announcement.The Committee has also asked for those, who are willing to appear before the Committee for oral evidence besides submitting the memorandum, to indicate the same. The corruption has taken so deep a root in the successive governments that it can not be removed by agitating a month or more and by bringing the entire country on streets. The first step towards adopting meaningful measure to deal with corruption is to start dialogue by the government with Team Anna and all political parties on one table. The corruption is an issue that touches emotional chords of the people instantly because that vice has deprived the millions of their due life-long. But by holding the nation to ransom, the problem of corruption can not be removed nor the Janlokpal Bill could become a reality. Every issue needs to be talked out in a vibrant democracy like ours.As far as anti-corruption agencies are concerned, there are several in place at the central and state level. But the result we see is that instead checking corruption, it increases very fast. It means untill and unless the degenerating moral value set in every sphere of life is not removed, no measure will prove effective to check corruption.