Demand right, dictation wrong

The agitation against corruption launched by social activist Anna Hazare since he started public service has been praiseworthy. His agitation against corruption and corrupt politicians has yielded desired result in Maharashtra. But his agitation for the appointment of Jan Lokpal to fight corruption has been in the quagmire. The different views, opinion expressed by the members of Team Anna in a dictatorial style under a political agenda reflect their ulterior motive. They appear to be undermining the supremacy of Parliament, which is untenable in parliamentary democracy. Parliament is supreme and no individual or group from outside can dictate it to do this way or that way under the given time frame. The nation needs the honest and selfless service of Anna Hazare. That is why he was seen by many in August last as the incarnation of Mahatma Gandhi when he sat on fast unto death for twelve days for his demand of Jan Lokpal to eradicate corruption. The entire nation was stirred against corruption and there appeared that people expected something miraculous from the 72 years old social activist. The media were so focused that the people did not watch and hear anything but the evocative lecture of Anna Hazare against corruption. He drew tremendous crowd. Excessive media focus impressed upon the Team Anna members that they could encash people’s emotional support against corruption in government under a political agenda. As Anna Hazare has to be dependent on aid and advice on some of the key members of his team, he is sometimes misguided also and speaks in different voices. This time, Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sishodia and Gopal Rai started indefinite fast unto death strike on 25-7-2012 at Jantar Mantar Delhi for the demand of probing corruption charge, which they have leveled, against 15 ministers, including the Prime Minister by SIT. Anna Hazare also has threatened the government to launch fast unto death strike from 25-7-2012 in support of the team members’ demand. After the August agitation last year, Team Anna committed one blunder after another. Their Hissar decision to vote against Congress candidate in by-election for Lok Sabha seat reflected clearly that Team Anna harbours political agenda against the UPA government with tacit support of main opposition party the BJP. The people appear to have realized that they have nothing to do with corruption or Lokpal but they want the change of regime under a well-planned political game. That is why people in Delhi this time have shown so far indifference to Team Anna fast at Jantar Mantar. As far as the support of Baba Ramdev to Team Anna is concerned, it will be always conditional. Baba Ramdev is a Yoga Guru of world fame. He has lakhs of followers all over the nation. But he has also a business empire through his Patanjali outlets all over the nation. That is why he opposes FDI in retail and propagate that 80 percent of FDI is black money in India. He is going again to launch protest on August 9 at Ramlila Ground for his demand of bringing back black money worth crores of rupees stashed away in foreign banks.