Hazare movement is a ray of hope, says Kuldeep Nayar

Dr Nayar was delivering a lecture on the topic ‘Current situation in India’, organised by MVR Foundation to mark the 84th birthday of veteran Congress leader M V Rajasekharan.

The seasoned journalist said: “The four pillars of democracy - legislature, judiciary, executive and press are all shaking, though they were supposed to stand up. They are making compromises. We have driven morality out of politics.”

He held Indira Gandhi responsible for driving morality out of politics. On the recent surge against corruption, he said he has a little bit of hope on Anna Hazare, though he did not agree with him fully. He said the response to the movement was overwhelming and the way youth came out onto the streets sent out a message that youth were sick of corruption. But he was sceptical of a further surge.

Expressing his apprehensions, Nayar asked, “Will that (the rise of the nation against corruption) happen again? Will it take the shape of a movement similar to JP’s (Jayaprakash Narayan)?” He supported Anna Hazare’s demand for ‘Right to Reject’ during elections.

He said corporate houses were the government media today. “We have paid news. You don’t know what is news and what is not. Can this pillar improve?”

He said at least 15 per cent of the judiciary is corrupt, executives are also part of the corrupt system, governments and the ministers are corrupt. He said there is a crisis of faith and leadership, while kindliness is missing from public life.

Forecasting a mid-term poll, Nayar said: “It’s better if it (mid-term poll) happens because things can’t go on like this. We have all kinds of scams - 2G, Air India, CWG.”

Recalling the days of partition in which one million people were butchered, 20 million people were rendered homeless, he said the people of Pakistan today ask why there was a partition. He said he is often asked whether Pakistan is a failed state or on the verge of collapse. His response is that Pakistan must exist for the sake of India, as it is acting as a buffer between India and Taliban, Nayar said.

The noted journalist said he is authoring his autobiography which would be released in November this year. Speaking on the occasion, M V Rajasekharan expressed apprehensions about the degrading values in parliamentary democracy and public life. Lexicographer and scholar G Venkatasubbaiah was also present.