The Anna effect
Anna became an instant hero to the young and the old alike because the people saw in him a simple ‘desh bhakt’ of a bygone era.
In the process of a 12-day fast, if an imitation Gandhi of the 21st century could play Pied Piper to the modern means of the media, including social network and television, galvanise the entire country behind him and bring the powerful political establishment virtually to its knees, imagine what the asli Gandhi could have done if such tools were available to him during the freedom struggle? Perhaps he would have achieved his goal much quicker and with far lesser pain!
But it is important to remember that though M K Gandhi was a consummate tactician at harnessing public sentiment, the fasts that he undertook periodically were a means of ‘self-purification’ and never used as a weapon to blackmail the British government.
Putting the current euphoria aside, if we think rationally, the method employed by Team Anna Hazare to get the government bend to its demands, leaves a queasy feeling that maybe we are allowing democracy to be hijacked by the mobocracy where unreasonable means are adopted to achieve goals through a shrill campaign and rousing of passions.
Not for a moment neither am I questioning Anna Hazare’s sincerity nor the urgency of the cause he espoused — a strong and credible Lokpal institution is certainly long overdue — but we need to step back and ponder whether we need to completely demonise and demolish the pillars of our democracy and the constitutional processes which we have inherited, for short term goals.
Before elaborating on the theme, let us salute Hazare for what he has done: At a time when corruption has reached unimaginable proportions and the ruling class of politicians and bureaucrats have shed a modicum of fear or shame at amassing illegal wealth, Hazare dramatically upped the public consciousness about the betrayal of public trust by the elected representatives.
Anna became an instant hero to the young and the old alike because the people saw in him a simple, uncomplicated ‘desh bhakt’ of a bygone era, a man without personal motives and the one who had ostensibly sacrificed comforts for an ideal he believed in. His work in his village Ralegaon Siddhi has earned him both bouquets and brickbats, but there was no denying that the strong moral compass he carried pitch-forked him as the Man of the Moment on the national stage.
When Hazare announced his indefinite fast from August 16 demanding acceptance of the Jan Lokpal bill drafted by his team, the UPA government thought that here was a maverick whose so-called agitation would fizzle out in a few days. The first mistake the government did was to arrest him and his accomplices and lodge them in Tihar jail even before they had launched their protest.
At a time when uncomfortable questions over massive corruption in 2G spectrum, Commonwealth Games and the Adarsh Housing society scams were hogging the headlines, the guilt-ridden UPA government stumbled from one mistake to another as Hazare launched his satyagraha at the Ramlila grounds.
Unfathomable impact
When Anna began his fast nobody was sure how long he could last and what impact it would have. He had already fasted for three days inside Tihar jail and a weary government offered the grounds for no more than one week. But Anna insisted and got it extended to two weeks.
It was clear from the beginning that he had touched a chord across the country and the frenzied, round-the-clock television coverage only ensured that the crowds continued to swell, making the politicians nervous. The BJP has been as guilty as the Congress in delaying the constitution of Lokpal, but the opposition now quickly latched on to the Anna bandwagon to put the government on the defensive.
As days rolled by and Anna’s health became an issue of national concern, even parliament was forced to shed its usual smugness and react positively. On the ninth day of Anna’s fast, the prime minister promised a ‘strong’ Lokpal and urged Anna not to risk his life. Finally, the government had no option but to discuss the Jan Lokpal bill on the floor of parliament along with other versions of the bill and convey to Anna in writing that his demands would be considered, thus enabling him to end his fast.
There was an element of ‘blackmail’ in Anna’s fast and the parliamentarians might have felt that civil society was arm-twisting them to act. But parliament as an institution has degenerated so much – for which all political parties are responsible – and the people’s trust in it is so badly eroded, that is it any surprise that Team Anna’s debatable methods have won widespread approval?
The government can regain lost ground by at least now presenting a credible Lokpal bill that includes best elements from the Jan Lokpal bill and the others before it. The government should not hesitate calling a special session of parliament for passing the Lokpal bill and quickly putting in place the mechanism needed to deal with corruption at all levels.
Hazare’s demands for inclusion of the lower bureaucracy under the ambit of the Lokpal, the establishment of Lokyauktas at the state level and the adoption of citizens’ charter for time-bound delivery of government services need to be considered seriously.
There was no justification for leaving out the lower bureaucracy as the common man directly feels the heat of corruption and inefficiency at that level. As for the Lokayuktas, the Centre can devise the statutory framework within which the states will be asked to set up such institutions.
Happily, the ‘Anna effect’ is already taking roots, with the Delhi government showing the way by deciding to implement a citizens’ charter from September 15. The time is ripe for the others to follow suit.
