Midnight murder of Lokpal Bill

Congress-led UPA Govt holds BJP responsible for stalemate over Lokpal Bill in RS while the BJP charges Congress of choreographing the stalemate over it. But the matter of the fact is that no MP wanted at heart that the Lokpal Bill to be passed. That is why it met its nemesis. Congress and BJP are holding drama of opposing each other on the issue. In reality, neither the Congress nor the BJP wants the anti-graft Lokpal Bill to be passed. They do not want a body over them to look into their corruption charges. If BJP wanted the Lokpal, why did it not support the Bill drafted by Team Anna in entirety. Why do they oppose Lokyukta provision on the model of the Lokpal by saying it is against the federal character of our Constitution? It nothing but its excuse. One thing also must be considered that why was it not passed despite having been introduced in Parliament for 8 times in the last 42 years and did not see the light of the day? Because the political class does not want it.Though corruption has increased in all spheres of lives, it has crossed all limits by the political class. That is why political leaders are in the eyes of the people to be most corrupt, though few among them are above it.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal has denied the opposition’s charges that the stalemate in Rajya Sabha over Lokpal bill was choreographed by the government and has said that mainly the BJP was responsible for the Bill not being passed in RS. It is also alleged that disruptions in the RS proceedings was stage managed by the ruling Congress party through Lalu’s RJD as MP Rajniti Prasad snatched the copy of the Bill from the minister and tore it. The tearing down of the Lokpal Bill by the MP is reminiscent of treatment to Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament by some MPs. So this is not new.
People have seen through the motives of political parties in regard to Lokpal Bill. The Minister is of the opinion that even if the Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with amendments it had to be sent to Lok Sabha again.He said that no decision has been taken over a Joint Parliamentary session for the Lokpal Bill.The Minister has also asserted that the Lokpal Bill will again be presented in Rajya Sabha during budget session.
From the very beginning it appeared that neither the Congress-led UPA nor the opposition parties was interested in passing the Lokpall Bill. RJD boss Lalu Prasad openly admitted that Lokpal would prove to be a noose around the neck of MPs. Though he may have said in lighter vein, it was the essence of the feeling of all MPs irrespective of their party affiliations. This is the reason that this bill has been hanging in balance for more than four decades. MPs would never like to be monitored by anyone outside the Parliament.
It is correct that Parliament must not be dictated by nominated individuals in Parliamentary democracy. Parliament is supreme. Inside the Parliament, MPs’ behaviour must not be monitored by the individual from outside. The ruling Congress Party must show sincerity by recommending the President for calling Joint Session of Parliament and get the Lokpal Bill passed in whichever shape and size it has been presented. Final judgment on the merit and demerit of the Bill will be given by the people in 2014 general elections of Lok Sabha.

Long -awaited Lokpal Bill to see the light of the day

Lok Sabha passed the long awaited anti-graft Lokpal Bill. It is good that ailing Anna Hazare has called off his fast and Jail Bharo Abhiyan. The nation has got it after a wait of 43 years. It is the credit of anti-graft nation-wide campaign by social activist and anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare who compelled the UPA government to move the Lokpal Bill and get it passed in the Lok Sabha, the he rejects it outright.
Anna Hazare under the banner of India against Corruption started the agitation from April this year by sitting on fast for the demand of anti-graft Lokpal at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for the first time. Again he sat on fast unto death for second time at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi in August, which lasted 12 days. He galvanized the entire nation against corruption and created anti-corruption atmosphere in all corners of the country. He drew overwhelming support of youths against corruption. This is the third time that he started his 3-day fast at MMRDA ground in Mumbai as he considers the government drafted Lokpal Bill as weak and worthless, though it was passed by the Lok Sabha while his fast was going on.
This may be weak and worthless according to Team Anna but this should be accepted as it is passed by the highest institution of democracy. In parliamentary democracy, Parliament is supreme. It is also true that Parliament may be subverted by the ruling party on the strength of its majority and it may get its way but the people of the country is the final authority at the time of elections.
The Lokpal Bill drafted by the government and passed by the Lok Sabha may not be the best but in getting the best we must not leave the good. The government has a term of five years to rule the country but with the competition of its term of 5 years, it has to face the Lok Sabha elections.
If the people disliked the Lokpal passed by Lok Sabha, they would naturally give mandate to throw the government out. In parliamentary democracy nominated persons can not dictate elected ones nor can Parliament be dictated from outside. Anna Hazare, who is sitting on 3-day fast in Mumbai, has done a good job by calling off his fast and Jail Bharo Abhiyan for the sake of his health and the nation. By sacrificing his life, he can not dictate Lok Sabha. It will be only be dictated by its elected representatives. Undoubtedly, he is honest and a man of integrity. If he thinks that the UPA government has cheated the nation by bringing and adopting the weak and worthless Lokpal, he must campaign against the government among the people of the nation during elections of Lok Sabha in 2014. This is the best way left for him. As Anna Hazare and his team label the entire political class as corrupt, it would also be better for them to join electoral politics to fight it out straightway.

Pak Govt and military on collision course

The democratically elected government of Pakistan and its military are on collision course with each other. Though it has been the tradition of Pakistan since it was carved out from India that its military establishment has always played a dominant role in the affairs of the nation, this time democratically elected President Asif Zardari and prime minister Yusouf Raza Gilani are asserting and even trying to seek US help in restraining the army. They appear to be not prepared to play subservient role in managing the affairs of the nation.
The relationship between the two closest allies America and Pakistan has come under strain after the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abottabad near Karachi in Pakistan where he was hiding with the help of military. The equation between the government and the military deteriorated sharply over the memogate scandal. It was reported that a missive sent to US through its envoy there by Pak President Asif Zardari to clip the wings of military and thwart any attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government through coup.
Military coup is not new to Pakistan. It has been under military dictatorship for more than half years of its existence and democracy has never been allowed to take root. Pakistani military establishment, its ISI and the jihadi forces in the country are not liking to be close to US. As military and fundamental forces have their strong say there, they put pressure on government to remove its envoy to US Haqqani for handing over missive to US administration. President Zardari had to dismiss his envoy to US.The stability there appears to be fragile.
Prime Minister Yusouf Raza Gilani has asserted in Parliament that there is no threat to the government and judiciary has also spoken against any attempt to usurp the democratically elected government. There is also a rumour that the government is planning to relieve both Pak military chief Pervez Kayani and ISI boss Pasha of their duties. But prime Minister Gilani has refuted that there is no such move. Both are on extended term.
But one thing is certain that the relation with the US may have come under enormous strain, there can be no change of power forcibly in Pakistan without the consent of the US. It is still Pak’s mentor, no matter how close China is coming to it. It is the US which would only bail out Pakistan of financial mess.
India has been always in the favour of democratically elected government in its neighbourhood. Stable and
democratically elected government in Pakistan is in the interest of India.

Rise above allegations and counter-allegation

There is match going on between Team Anna and Congress for discrediting each other. As anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare rejects the Govt. drafted Lokpal Bill, which is in the custody of Parliament, to check corruption, Congress misses no opportunity of slamming him for speaking against it. A Photo of Anna Hazare with late RSS leader and social worker Nanaji Deshmush was carried by a Hindi Daily yesterday that prompted the Congress leader to label him as the agent of RSS, though he himself rejected the charge outright.
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and VHP chief Vishnu Hari Dalmia have already stated that they had supported Anna Hazare’s campaign against corruption and their cadres managed and participated in his fast unto death protest for Jan Lokpal for 12 days at Ramlia ground in Delhi. Anna Hazare refused to accept this statement. But one thing is apparently clear that his agitation against corruption had political support of the main opposition party Bhartiya Janata Party of which the RSS is doting parent as it is its political wing. It may be either due to take political advantage from Anna’s campaign against corruption in the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre or backing him from behind to create disenchantment among the people against the UPA government.
Many of the moves made by Anna Hazare and his team taken since beginning of the campaign against corruption have clearly reflected anti-Congress stance. But whoever may be behind the support of Anna Hazare, the issue of corruption and his demand for strong Lokpal to check it is in no way wrong. If BJP, RSS, VHP and others extend to Anna in fighting corruption, what is wrong in accepting that publicly? If they are alleged to be pursuing only the interest of the majority, does the issue of corruption not hurt the minorities. The issue of corruption is nothing to do with communal and secular issue. The attempt to drag the issue of Lokpal in communal and secular debate is absolutely wrong and casts suspicion on the sincerity of Congress to the passing of strong Lokpal smoothly in the Parliament.
Are the RSS and the VHP not Indian organizations? Anna Hazare must openly admit that he has accepted their support in fighting corruption if he has no other motive. It is correct that corruption grows larger and larger in the government and there is immediate need of strong Lokpal for which Anna Hazare is going to sit on fast for three in Mumbai for the third time this year. He is also going to start Jail Bharo Abhiyan all over the country by his followers and supporters and gherao of MPs’ residence in Delhi.
The UPA government must help pass the strong Lokpal Bill which is under the custody of Parliament and slated to be discussed and passed on Dec 27, 28 and 29. The ruling Congress party and the Team Anna must not indulge in allegations and counter allegations and miss the historic opportunity of making a strong Lokpal.

Politics of reservation

In view of the coming assembly elections, the ruling Congress Party in UPA government at the Centre has played Muslim card by giving the minority 4.5 per cent reservation within 27 for Other Backward Castes( OBCs) in government jobs and educational institutions. The weapon of reservation is used by every ruling political entity for getting votes in its favour. But no effort has ever been made to make appraisal of how much the reservation has benefited to whom it has been given. The apparent reason is that the successive ruling establishments have nothing to with the uplift of the category of people under reservation but to promote their vote bank politics.
Although there is no constitutional provision to give reservation on the basis of religion, the current announcement made by the UPA government is through executive order and it has been given under already notified 27 percent reservations to OBCs.
By playing the Muslim card, the Congress is certainly trying to retrieve the support of the community in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in particular and the whole of the nation in general.
The three political parties- BSP, SP and RJD- whose politics is entirely based on caste and community always demand for reservation only with a view to promoting their brand of casteist politics. All these three are state-based political party. The ruling BSP and the opposition SP of UP are confined to the state while RJD’s influence is confined to Bihar.
The main national Opposition party BJP has vehemently opposed the reservation to minority as it is unconstitutional. The party has always opposed the politics of appeasement. But Congress has always played the politics of appeasement in the name of secularism.
Congress being the oldest political party of the nation must take holistic view on any issue and must not be guided by narrow political interest. It has also ruled the country for the longest period of time. It is correct that Congress has always championed the cause of secularism and it also upholds secularism at all costs barring a few aberrations. The party has also given its stamp of approval to the 50 per cent reservation in the constitution of Lokpal. Lokpal will have 8 members of which 50 per cent will be reserved for SC, ST, OBCs, Women and minority. Lokpal Bill has been introduced to check corruption. It is not government job giving body. What need is there for reservation? It is not to benefit only socially and economically weaker sections of society but all by checking corruption.
The Congress party must make arrangement for the appraisal of benefits so far availed by the beneficiaries after the independence. It is seen and experienced that the benefit of reservation has been availed by the affluent section of people of the reserved category and the poor and disadvantaged section of people in that category remained deprived. So, these lacunae in reservation privilege must be removed. There is no opposition to reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for only economically backward section of the people.

At last, Lokpal Bill introduced

At last, the long-awaited and much-sought after anti-graft Lokpal Bill was introduced in Parliament amid opposition and criticism from civil society group of Team Anna. The bill is to be discussed in the extended winter session of Parliament on Dec 27, 28 and 29 and subsequently it is to be passed.
Anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare has played the pivotal role in pushing the UPA government to table the anti-graft bill. He and his team galvanized the entire nation against corruption, which has taken the form of cancer. Team Anna is also credited with making the government and the entire political class conscious about the rising voices of the people against corruption. It is because of their campaign against corruption that the Government has been forced to introduce the anti-graft bills like Citizens Charter, Judicial Accountability, Money laundering, Whisle blower’s protection and Public Grievance Redressal in winter session of Parliament to show the people that they are sincere to act against corruption.
Though Team Anna has rejected the Government drafted Lokpal Bill, which was introduced, outright and stuck to their decision of sitting on three-day fast from Dec 27 in Mumbai and Jail Bharo Abhiyan and sitting on dharna before the residence of MPs from January 1, 2 and 3 for strong Lokpal Bill, they should have waited to see what correction and amendments are made to the Lokpal bill in the Parliament during debate and discussion on it.
Prime Minister has been brought under Lokpal but with some conditions as safeguard measures. Anna Hazare demands full autonomy to the premier investigative agency CBI by putting it under the purview of Lokpal but the Government only altered its mechanism of appointment of its Director but kept it under its actual control.
There is a five member committee consisting of PM, Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha Speaker, CJI and an eminent person nominated by the government that would appoint Lokpal. It clearly reflects that balance is in favour of the government in the appointment of Lokpal.
Team Anna has described the Government drafted bill as an empty tin box and Lokpal as postman. One prominent drawback in Team Anna is that they believe that whatever view they express is only right and whoever differs with them is wrong. This is quite impossible in democracy. There must be give and take attitude to reach a consensus on any contentious issue. This has not happened with this Lokpal Bill. Its final shape and nature will only come out after it is passed by the Parliament because there is still enough scope for amendments and corrections. We must hope that a strong Lokpal Bill to fight corruption would see the light of the day in more than four decades as it has already introduced 8 times before this.

Shun confrontationist approach over Lokpal

The UPA Government and the Team Anna should shun confrontationist approach over making of historic Lokpal to fight the cancerous corruption. Team Anna must remain apolitical and Government must act with sincerity and open mind over Lokpal. Otherwise both will have to face the consequences as the nation watches them silently.
The contentious Lokpal Bill drafted by the UPA government is to be introduced in Parliament. It is not the same Lokpal as suggested by anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare and his team. It may not be as effective as they want. But government is to think over every clause and provision and its pros and cons before incorporating in the Lokpal Bill. It is common sense that Parliament is supreme in making any law in Parliamentary democracy and it can not be dictated by any individual or a group of individuals. The government has to be accountable to the people.
Anna Hazare wanted CBI and Prime Minister to be under the ambit of Lokpal in totality. While government drafted Lokpal Bill to be presented before the Parliament has put Prime Minister under Lokpal with some riders as safeguard motive. CBI has remained under the actual control of the government with minor technalities in the appointment process of its Director.
Anna Hazare has rejected the Lokpal outright and announced of holding three-day fast and protest in Mumbai and there after he would start Jail Bharo Abhiyan along with his followers and supporters all over the country against the government proposed Lokpal.
It is a well-accepted fact that corruption is rampant at all levels of the government departments and that need to be checked with appropriate mechanism like Lokpal. It is also true that all credit goes to Anna Hazare and his team to galvanize the nation against corruption that has compelled the government to draft and introduce Lokpal Bill, that may not be the same as Anna wants, in Parliament.
Anna Hazare and his team represent a group of civil society. There are several other groups of civil society who have different approach, view and mechanism of Lokpal Bill. The government has to assimilate all shades of opinions while drafting Lokpal. Anna Hazare has every right in democracy to reject it and mobilize the nation against it. He is also free to undertake fast and protest but at the same time no body can dictate the government nor impose his will on Parliament. It is only the people who can throw out the government by expressing their will against it through proper way. That is by voting against it in the elections.
It would be better for the success of Anna Hazare’s campaign against corruption if he had shown patience and watched how the elected MPs react during discussions and debate over Lokpal. Anna Hazare’s fight against corruption has of late also reeks of politics if the support of the main opposition Party Bhartiya Janata Party to his campaign outside the Parliament is any thing to go by. He must not allow any political party to take political advantage from his campaign against corruption as all political parties are of chameleon colour and indulge in competitive corruption. Let the government and the Parliament take their view on Lokpal and react to them after in the appropriate democratic and peaceful manner. No single view prevails in democracy.