Miscalation of public disenchantment over corruption

The entire ruling establishment of UPA badly miscalculated the gathering public anger day by day over growing corruption with them . The mishandling of Anna Hazare peaceful protest and fast against corruption rampant at every level of government department by UPA has also shown that it has no strong political leadership to take political decision when required urgently. The position it changed dramatically between the period and Anna's arrest in the morning and release in the evening under intense public pressure with epicentre in Delhi has exposed its directionlessness and headlessness.

Famous Gandhian and social activist Anna Hazare’s peaceful protest and fast against corruption and for bringing Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament as he and his team wishes to curb growing corruption have undoubtedly become the symbol of hope and aspiration of the people of the nation. Anna and his team of civil society have drafted Jan Lokpal Bill.The Government has drafted Lokpal Bill, which was introduced in Parliament and lying before the Standing Committee.

There is major difference between Anna’s Jan Lokpal Bill and Govt’s Bill. Anna’s Bill is more effective to curb the rampant corruption from top to bottom than the Jan Lokpal drafted by the government. Team Anna has never challenged the supremacy of Parliament and the government must not hide behind Parliament.

First of all, Anna Hazare’s fast unto death protests in April at Jantarmantar in Delhi forced the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government to think of Lokpal, which was hanging in balance for the last 42 years, and they started to draft it and introduced in the first week of monsoon session of Parliament as promised to Anna Hazare and his team at the time of ending protset and fast.

As Government drafted bill was vehemently opposed and criticised by Team Anna because of its ineffectiveness in checking corruption , Hazare prepared for peaceful protest and fast unto death from August 16 as promised to the people. Manmohan Singh Government and Congress party completely failed to see the writing on the wall and tried its best to defame Anna Hazare by using power to repress the constitutionally and democratically guaranteed right to every citizen of non-violent protests. As the UPA lacks complete political farsight, Delhi police arrested Anna Hazare from his home before starting fast unto death against corruption in apprehension of breaking down law and order. When the need was to take political decision, government took help of law and order. It is its absolute failure and its endeavour to hide behind Delhi police aggravated the anger of already disenchanted people with growing corruption and that brought the entire country out spontaneously on the streets in support of Anna Hazare protest against corruption.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh need not tell that Parliament is the sole body to frame laws as every citizen knows it, notwithstanding the law makers. Hazare has never challenged the supremacy of Parliament. If the people in whom soveignty resides supports Anna Hazare, what problem has the government in introducing Jan Lokpal bill drafted by Team Anna. Parliament is supreme, so the decision has to be taken by it about Anna's Jan Lokpal Bill. So, still there is enough time for Prime Minister Singh to undergo penance for lack of political insight by fresh channels of talks with Anna Hazare to root out corruption in the best possible constitutional and democratic way. UPA Government did right by waiving all conditions and kneeling down before Anna Hazare to respect the mass movement.

Govt's lack of understanding over Anna's arrest and release order

The arrest of renowned Gandhian and social activist Anna Hazare and some of his team members in

the morning and their release in the evening under intense public pressure shows that how the

Dr. Manmohan Singh-led UPA Government mishandling the issue of corruption and civil liberty.

Govt. reflects its directionlessness, indecisiveness and arrogance. From the beginning to the

end, the government has changed stances now and then in regard to Anna Hazare and his team’s to

introduce the Lokpal Bill as drafted by it and thereafter his arrest from the residence in Mayur

Vihar Phase -I in apprehension of breaking law and order if he sat on fast unto death at JP Park

the morning of Aug 16 and releasing him in the evening under intense pressure of his aides

increasing minute by minute all over the country.

It is the common knowledge that the essence of democracy is the right to freedom of expression

and peaceful protest as enshrined in the Constitution of India. Famous Gandhian and social

activist Anna Hazare and his team of civil society members had already staged a fast unto death

at Jantar Mantar in the heart of Delhi for making a Jan Lokpal to eradicate corruption in April

itself. His protest ended peacefully in a Gandhian style.

Every one is aware of the fact that corruption is rampant in every government department from

top to bottom and the helpless peaople are seething in anger at the plight for no fault of theirs

but due to corruption. That Dr. Manmohan Singh-led Government failed to guaze the people’s anger

which Anna Hazare knew in a better way and emerged the rallying point of lakhs of people of

India.

By arresting Anna Hazare under the cover of law boomeranged on the weak and indecisive government

as the sovereignty resides in the people of India and neither in government nor in its office

from top to bottom demands bribe openly . The common villager and the town dwellers are asked for

the graft to move their file. That why the million of supporters from every corner of the nation

spontaneously responded to Anna’s call out of their desperation with the corrupt practices being

practised from the lowest to the highest levels in all government departments.The standoff in

Tihar Jail likely to be over with Anna Hazare set to come out of the prison after a night-long

protest demanding that he be allowed to launch his indefinite strike from a venue of his choice

in the capital.Hazare, who was ordered to be released on Tuesday night after a day-long detention

before he was to begin his fast demanding strong Lokpal, had refused to come out of the prison

unless he was allowed to protest from JP Park without conditions.

There is no doubt that corruption is rampant at all levels of government departments. As the rot

starts from the head, so is the position of Dr. Manmohan Singh-led UPA-II Government at the

Centre if we go by the scams like 2G Spectrum, CWG, Adarsh Hosing Society, NTRO, Space and

others. The allegation that this government is neck-deep in corruption is not out of place. Anna

Hazare’s declared protest against corruption by sitting on fast unto death from August 16 in

Delhi is his constitutional right and no government can stop him from doing so.

Anna Hazare is a Gandhian and social activist of the high moral standard. Not only he but also

the all Indian citizens have constitutional right to protest in a non-violent and civilised way.

That vital thing government willfully lost sight of.

Protest is right, but way uncivil

There is no doubt that corruption is rampant at all levels of government departments. As the rot starts from the head, so is the position of Dr. Manmohan Singh-led UPA-II Government at the Centre if we go by the scams like 2G Spectrum, CWG, Adarsh Hosing Society, NTRO, Space and others. The allegation that this government is neck-deep in corruption is not out of place. Anna Hazare's declared protest against corruption by sitting on fast unto death from August 16 in Delhi is his constitutional right and no government can stop him from doing so but at the same time he must be knowing Gandhian philosophy that a person's freedom ends at the point it violates another's freedom. To keep the freedom and right of all intact, the police administration has the responsibility to maintain law and order and they arrested Anna in apprehension of breaking it.

Anna Hazare is a Gandhian and social activist of the high moral standard. Not only he but also the all Indian citizens have constitutional right to protest in a non-violent and civilised way. Hazare had announced several days ago that he would sit on fast unto death in demand for making Lokpal as he wishes to curb corruption. He along with his so-called civil society associates sat several times with Government representatives to draft a Lokpal Bill. But the difference persisted between the government and Anna side and both drafted their own Lokpal Bill.

Anna Hazare and his team of so-called civil society members drafted Jan Lokpal Bill and presented it to the Government representatives -headed by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to present before the Union Cabinet for approval to be introduced in Parliament. Government panel of five representatives also prepared a Lokpall Bill to be presented before the Cabinet. And according to the Government side, Union Cabinet approved their Lokpal Bill in which they had incorporated 34 clauses out 40 from the Jan Lokpall Bill drafted by Anna and his team.

Government introduced the Lokpall Bill in Parliament, which has been sent to Standing Committee to elicit different shades of opinions on it from different sides and individuals for improvisation of the Lokpall Bill under consideration. Anna and his team described Government Lokpal Bill as fraud. They say it is an eye-wash and nothing else.

One of the civil society members was even heard saying on Television News Channels that the Lokpall Bill introduced in the Parliament is nothing but a Corruption Promotion Bill. Team Anna was so much angry at the introduction of the Lokpall Bill in Parliament that they burnt its copies at different places. Since then it was certain that if the Government did not agree to Anna and his team members view and if the Jan Lokpal Bill prepared by them was not introduced, Anna Hazare would sit on fast unto death till indifinite period in national capital Delhi as it is his democratic right to stage peaceful protests. It is their fundamental right and no body has any dispute on this. But it is also the constitutional responsibility of the administration to maintain law and order and ensure hassle free life of the common Delhiites.

The police administration of Delhi allotted Anna Hazare Jai Prakash Narayan Park in North-East Delhi to sit on fast unto death for not more than 58 hours, not more than 5000 people, 50 cars and 60 motorbikes and loudspeakers not after 9 PM. Anna and his team refused to abide by these conditions laid down by police to maintain law and order. Instead, they dared the entire administration and announced of going ahead with their programmes, come what may. Immediately after this , the Delhi police imposed 144 prohibitory order in and around JP Park.

As Anna was adamant to sit on fast unto death against corruption today’s morning from 10 AM at JP Park, the Delhi police arrested him and some of aides before 8 in the morning itself from his house and produced before the court for bail. The designated court sent Anna Hazare and his aides to Tihar Jail for 7 days under judicial custody as they refused to accept the bail. Anna must protest against corruption as it eats into the vitality of the nation very fast. Corruption is more dangerous than cancer. So, he and his team must protest but with high standard of civility as he is known for setting highest standard of probity in public life. Delhi is a national capital city so any message message from here goes out world- wide faster. So, it would be better for team Anna to select a place of protest in any area adjascent to national capital.

Restrain the police and stop their atrocities

The primary duty of the government both at the Centre and in the state is to restrain the police and stop their atrocities on unarmed and innocent public.The excessive force used by Pune police on unarmed farmers is shameful in any civilised society of a democratic country.The police firing on farmers in Pune district dominated the proceedings of both Houses of the Maharashtra Legislature with the Prithviraj Chavan government ordering a judicial probe into the incident that left three dead. But it is too little and a lengthy process to punish the errant policemen.
The Assembly saw five adjournments after the issue was raised through an adjournment motion and debated. In the Council, there was only one adjournment when Opposition members shouted slogans against the Congress-NCP government over the “killing” of innocent farmers during a protest at Maval near Pune .
The police firing killed four farmers and injured several. Though the police version is that the firing was first made from a private vehicle on them and in retaliation they fired on the farmers demonstrating against Congress-Shiv Sena government for acquiring their land for Expressway, can the police say that why did they broke the parked motor cycles and other vehicles of the farmers demonstrating there? Is the Video showing police aiming to shoot farmers wrong? Is It not the unnecessary use of excessive force by the police against unarmed and peaceful demonstration of farmers? Under whose order did the police fire which killed four farmers? The police have to give reply to the people. Is there political pressure on them to go against the farmers or were farmers instigated by opposition parties that led to firing?
Whatever may be the cause of action by the police, it is unfortunate and whoever is guilty must be awarded deterrent punishments.
The killing in police firing is not new in India and greater number of innocent lives have been lost several times in the past. The political party in power is accountable to the people. So, it is thepr first duty to punish the guilty police officials stringently. The police and public relation have been strained and the later has been fearful of the former in our country.

Screening of Film Arakshan must go on

Amitabh Bacchan - Saif Ali Khan starrer film Arakshan is to be released on Friday August 12. The film has been directed by Prakash Jha. The main theme of the film is commercialisation of education. How the education has been turned intoiving business by education mafia.

All time super star Amitabh Bacchan has acted up to his potential in the film and in a superb fashion as a principal of an institution . It is enough for a film watcher how interesting and important message the film would send to the society in which the greatest film personality of the contemporary era has played the main role.

Arakshan means reservation which is a Constitutional reality and no one can deny it despite whatsoever slogan is launched in a sarcastic way anywhere.

The Mayawati Government of UP has banned the release of the film Arakshan for two months in the state for avowed reason of law and order problem. The UP Government is of the view that screening of the film will create law and order problem in the state as some of the dialogues of the film are objectionable.

Taking cue from the UP Chief Minister Mayawati, Prakash Singh Badal Government of Punjab has also banned the realease of the film Arakshan attributing the reason to triggering of social unrest due to some objectionable dialogues, which hurt the sentiment of a section of society. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has also forwarded to the Censor Board “some objectionable” dialogues from the Amitabh Bachchan-Saif Ali Khan starrer ‘Aarakshan’, asking it to take a call on their inclusion.

The ban order of the film Arakshan by UP and Punjab is nothing but guided by narrow political benefit in view of the assembly elections in two states next year . P L Punia is the Chairman of National Commission of Schedule Caste and is Congress MP and comes from Uttar Pradesh. He is opposed to some of the dialogues in Arakshan and that is why he also advocates for some cuts in the film. In apprehension that the Congress Party could not score point over her casteist politics among the schedule caste voters, UP Chief Minister Mayawati has taken a politically guided decision to ban Arakshan.

The final authority to decide whether a film deserves U/A certificate to release is the Film Censor Board . It has already given the film Arakshan U/A Certificate without any cut.

The political parties having no will power to resolve the burning problems of the day are indulging only in throttling the right to expression. Every artist’s artistry gives constructive, instructive and positive message to society. The artists also throw light on how to solve if the society is confronted with the problem. The decision of judging the film must be left to movie watchers and Censor Board, which is consisting of eminent personalities in their respective fields.

If any state government apprehends that screening of the film cam create law and order proble, what is it meant for? It is the duty of the state government to tighten the law and order machinery if it has apprehension breaking of it due to release of certain Film. UP and Punjab Govt. must not ban the film Arakshan purely for political reasons.

London police failure to stop rioting

There have been several racial riots in various cities of Britain in the past but this London

riot, which has spread to different cities and London suburbs can not be attributed to a certain

factor. Though London on the fourth day of rioting remained largely quiet with a heavy police

presence on the streets but unrest spread across central and northern England on a fourth night

of violence that has blighted the David Cameron Govt’s image and ability to hold the 2012 London

Olympics safely.

With 16,000 police officers deployed in London, the streets remained calm after three previous

nights of rioting. But there was unrest in Manchester, Sanford, Liverpool, Wolver Hampton,

Nottingham, Leicester and Birmingham with shops being looted and set alight. According to the

report, so far 768 people have been arrested and 105 charged in connection with violence in

London.

Economic recession and racial discrimination might be the prime factors but the way Britain

police mishandled the riots have made them worse. The riot was triggered by the killing of a

Nottingham youth in police firing while he was traveling in a taxi. The London Police reportedly

fired on the youth on the suspicion of his being a drug lord gagster. Nottingham area is

inhabited by poor middle class non-whites population who are in majority. They have grievances

against the police that they discriminate against them. This much feeling sparked off instant

worst-ever riot. The youths of Nottingham came out on London streets in groups and started

rioting and looting shops of electronic goods, designer cloth shops and set the motor vehicles

parked on the roads indiscriminately. Londoners are shocked and shuddered at the terrible sights

of rioting and looting.

Communication facilities fuelled the riots and lootings from one area to another. Blackberry

played the most destructive role in fanning the unrest in different cities where the police were

caught unwares. The situation became so alarming that the Prime Minister David Camroon had to cut

short on his holiday in Italy and got back London. As Parliament is in recess these days between

the Budget Session, the British Prime Minister has called the emergency session of Parliament to

take stock of the situation of London riotings.British PM has also reinforcements of police on

London streets as they were unable to control the rioters. The worsening situation requires hard

police action to control immediately the rioters.

The image of metropolis like London has taken a severe beating as its police dealt with rioters

with soft hands, while to keep law and order they had to be hard and strict. Camroon government

failed completely to restore peace in time.

The people of the lower middle class and the lowest strata of society among the non-whites have

more unemployment and the problem is getting bigger and bigger that has sown the seeds of

disgruntlement among them. Cameroon Government of Labor party must address to this burning

problem. The Camroon government has cut on welfare measures that also contributed to blood-shed

and looting on the London streets.

FM's defence of growth must be based on solid ground

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee says that India’s fundamentals are strong and its growth

story is intact in his bid to allay the fears in Indian markets. He also says that Indian economy

is placed in a better position than other countries to meet the challenges that may arise

globally in the wake of downgrading of US credit rating from AAA+ to AA+ by S & P (Standard and

poor’s) Rating Agency.

But a few years back the US economy boasts of being the largest in the world that must not be

lost sight of in the context of its downgrading. If the US economy could fall headlong, why not

ours if its plinth is based on the same economic theory as of the US. So, though Finance Minister

is himself a prestigeous economist, it would be better if he had given us fullproof assurance the

influence of outside factors on our economy.

It is good thing that Mukherjee has asssured the country about Govt’s prepapredness to face the

challenges if ever the US downgrding had its impact on our economy. But almost all the economic

analysts and instituions don't altogether rule out no impact on Indian Market. It can also not

be rejected that our economic growth has slowed down in the last two years,though 8.2 growth is

respectable, while we require above 9 per cent in this competitive economy world.

Government has some political compulsions that hold it back from taking quick decision on the

issue of economic reforms. A lot of investment is needed in energy and infrastructure

development. Land Acquisition Act has to be put in place to expedite the economic reforms process

as now it is almost impossible to go back on them.

The hurdle in speedy reforms to be removed to achieve the desired energy production because it

has to satisfy first the people of the nation by solving environment problems. The environment

activists and the people oppose vehemently if attempts are made to increase coal productions and

installations of nuclear power projects on the plea that they destroy ecololical balance

resulting in pollution and hazardous activities. As we are a vibrant and largest democracy, the

government must take the people of the nation into confidence before embarking on any economic

policy and the benefit accruing from it must reach to the bottom in far-flung villages and urban

areas of our nation. Then only it would be called sustainable economic growth.