I am 26 and I love my country a lot. I am one of those guys who have goose bumps every time I hear a proud thing about my nation. I was one among those guys who had decided to brave the lathis of policewalas at India Gate on the lucky day when the government agreed to pass a jan lokpal bill.
But what makes an Indian as me not impressed by what is happening now? It’s the way every citizen large or small in this country believes that the law belongs to him. Yes I badly want a law or agency that decides to punish offenses of corruption large or small. But does that mean tomorrow I can call my 100 odd friends who in turn call their friends and create a group of 100000 or 1 million or more people. And then decide I want to fast unto death because I want a bill that grants me the power to question anyone including the Supreme Court justice, the president and prime minister of my country. Sounds very interesting at the same time very ambitious too. That to me as a true Indian does not sound very convincing because I feel it kills the very essence of my nation. We are a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic. And I would not like any tom dick and harry to change its very essence. My country is not perfect and I believe no country is.
On what grounds is this fight being fought? Before I wrote this piece I spoke to around 24 – 30 people out of which only 4 knew the exact draft of the Jan lokpal and all of 4 of whom were not very convinced. What is wrong in the government elected by my people telling the new set of law policy makers that they cannot be the be all and end all in the corruption cases, when I am proud citizen of a country where judiciary is a body that is independent? How can it be right for a person to penalize anybody over the powers of judiciary by passing a bill? Isn’t there a gross mistake in that concept? If passing a Jan lokpal bill is right can I go ahead and start a movement to pass a bill that gives any citizen or a set of so called ‘responsible’ citizens of my country the power to kill any body who has committed a grievous crime against the nation. If Jan lokpal is right so will it. How can this so called committee have the powers of police, judiciary and the government? Then trust me that it is not the beginning of a perfect INDIA it is the beginning of autocracy in a peace loving democracy.
If Anna Hazare feels there is a true need to change the system, he has the support of ‘every’ Indian today, let him to be a part of the system and change it. Start a party, fight elections become the person to make the change. I will be the first person to vote for you sir. But with all due respect I cannot accept the fact that you will stay outside the system and fight for a new system in place.
The governments’ failure as a system is my fault as a voter who voted them to power. Sorry I will not put the blame on the system and ask for it to be replaced. That’s not how my country runs, there are people responsible and we have chosen them, if we don’t like them change the people not the system. And if I may question why is that only people in government is being brought under the purview of this bill why does it not include industrialists, irresponsible media personalities and others who are outside the government and can cause damage to the financial status of this country. If there is a need to fight against corruption then fight it completely don target one section of the society because they are actually soft targets.
If the drafters of lokpal are sure that they have a flawless system in place then if someone has a complaint against the lokpal why should it not be investigated by someone other that their own committee. Why is it that any flaws from their end will only be investigated only by them?
The bill in itself may have a lot of positives and a lot of open and loose ends. It does not convince me that one agency can be given absolute powers in a democratic country. I might as well live in Iraq or Iran where someone else decides I should live and I don’t have the right to question. The very beauty of this country is that today we are still very much a democratic. If you feel you don’t have options think hard our constitution under article 49(O) of the 1969 act gives you the right to nullify vote.There is a law already for all possible crimes in this country, the point is we have the entire system in place but instead of using them to the full potential we are just going with the wave to create a new system with unwarranted powers.
I would like to end my lines by quoting one of the greatest crusaders of a non-violent struggle Aung San Suu Kyi once said “It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.” And the lokpal talks of absolute powers think of what your doing carefully. Lets not create a Frankenstein to kill a rat causing plague instead lets find a remedial cure standing within the available choices. I know my choice it’s your turn!!!
9 comments:
-"That to me as a true Indian does not sound very convincing because I feel it kills the very essence of my nation, And I would not like any tom dick and harry to change its very essence"
- It is not Tom, Dick and harry from U.S who... is questioning for the essence of the nation.Its We and our fellow Indians who have decided to raise their voice against this nation wide spread 64 yrs chronic menace which has eated away 1433crores crores.
2.- What is wrong in the government elected by my people telling the new set of law policy makers that they cannot be the be all and end all in the corruption cases, when I am proud citizen of a country where judiciary is a body that is independent?
Yes i agree that judiciary is a body that is independant. Unfortunately that is the only thing that is independant and not the people who runs the judiciary
The Govt elected by our people is coming to power on the wings of muscle, money and men who are corrupt themselves. and when it is time for our people to stand up against this it is the duty of every indian to support this global cause.
3. If passing a Jan lokpal bill is right can I go ahead and start a movement to pass a bill that gives any citizen or a set of so called ‘responsible’ citizens of my country the power to kill any body who has committed a grievous crime aga...inst the nation.
Yes, you have a right to start a movement because democracy is a government FOR the people and BY the people for the reasons mentioned above. And Lokpal Bill is not giving power to kill anybody. It is only asking the intention of being corrupt to be killed.
4. If Anna Hazare feels there is a true need to change the system, he has the support of ‘every’ Indian today, let him to be a part of the system and change it. Start a party, fight elections become the person to make the change
Anna is proving that You dont need to be a politician to change the system.
5. And if I may question why is that only people in government is being brought under the purview of this bill why does it not include industrialists, irresponsible media personalities and others who are outside the government and can caus...e damage to the financial status of this country. If there is a need to fight against corruption then fight it completely don target one section of the society because they are actually soft targets
There is no LAW in India which prevents action against Industrialist or media. Ex. Ramalinga Raju of satyamcomputers. But there are lot of laws in India which prevents action against politicians and bureaucrats.
Ultimately just to close my comment. The most ideal and the preferred nation in the world is USA and there the ultimate decisions are taken under the directions of Jury which has a panel of common man. So i believe the common man intervention is a right move.
And Im not a part of Team Anna. Iam just an ordinary citizen of my proud INDIA.
well prathiba.. all i am trying to tell u here is that there is already a law.. the jan lokpal is just an extension of certain anti corruption laws in our constitution.. Be the change u want to see.. is wat gandhi said... as a true gandhian is tat not what Mr.Anna has to do.. why these ultimatums and threat to the govt.. ask for perfecting a system... not creating.. and if u hav agreed that judiciary is independent.. that is the reason why Mr.Kalamadi. Raja and Kanimozhi are in jail..so its definnitely not decided by others,,
for the last point there is no law that prevents actio against miisters.. ask Jayalalitha and she will tell u how to do it.. :)
This is the classical chicken and egg situation. thank you for bringing it out.
If Anna or anyone speaks against the current mass we have in power they are silenced with the words, form a party and then talk.
Why? Why do we need politics in the realm of protest.
We have all kinds of allegations being flung around and misunderstandings attributing things to Team Anna never said by them which makes it seem like there would be an all pervading agency ( Big Brother) so to speak.
My friends, NONSENSE. This may remotely be a big brother scenario but only to Govt servants who as of date are so corrupt that the Govt itself is forced to admit that to include B, C & D class officers would collapse the system.
In fact, the fools on the street chanting against Anna et al dont even realise the insidious clause inserted by the Govt which would make a Big Brother scenario for Any committee which collects funds from your Ganpati mandal to your Housing society in the Govt version of the Bill.
Even I have the same sentiments!! Let the Team float a party, fight the other corrupt parties and give people a chance to think about right candidate!! Now when we talk about the right choice of candidate, we got to speak about 49-0 when we are not happy with any of the candidates. I seriously don't understand why this option is not part of the options in EVMs. Why should one fill a form to vote for 49-0? Why should you reveal your identity as someone who votes for 49-0?
Cheers,
L
http://cresloga.wordpress.com/
Dude,
I guess Prathibha has already address most of your concerns:-
However few more thoughts:-
If passing a Jan lokpal bill is right can I go ahead and start a movement to pass a bill that gives any citizen or a set of so called ‘responsible’ citizens of my country the power to kill any body who has committed a grievous crime against the nation.
Yes, you have that right but the question is will people support. At this point of time, I think noone will support you. Same would have been the case with Anna, had he also put such illegitimate demands with which we don't agree.
Moreover, We(the people) need to have more rights and should get the similar treatment as a Politician or his family gets.
If I cross a red light I am charged, however when family member of a Politician do the same thing the Policeman say's Sorry Sir for unknowingly stopping his car. WHY? Because institutions here in India are not autonomous. Police and almost all organisations work directly under Govt.
My father is in Police and I know why CBI is not able to tackle cases against Govt effectively. It's because it works directly under PM. Same CBI shows great efficiency in trying to find something against Ramdev(but only when He raise his voice against the Govt, why not earlier?)
Hey Manu...
its nice to know that u are confident tat no one will stand by me.. ever felt the pain of loss of losing a loved one to terror.. trust me i jus need to start from 1947 - 2011 collect all survivors of terror attack.. they will stand by me.. that is the pain of loss and wen the ones who created the loss are not punished.,.
As an learned person by askin for the bill that anna has drafted to be passed ur asking for a parallel govt.. Wat is the gaurantee that the upcoming lokpals will not be corrupt.. if so do u realize that we are by passing the bill opening a pandora's box..
And sir u cannot be treated equal to MLA's and MP's that is a privilege provided by constitution.. written by great men.. that cannot be provided to us.. we don spend our lives the way do.. its impossible.. wat ur asking is as unreasonable as the lokpal.. please don ask for a parallel govt.. it will bring this country to 'An(n)archy'.
Ad jus FYI prathiba has actually not addressed any of my concerns.. jus provided her views..
Well certainly as of now Kalmadi, Raja and Kanimozhi are behind bars.
Do you know the status of their wealth that they have made during the course is all been reclaimed and returned back to the tax payers???
When action be initiated against them under the existing judicial set up of postponement after postponement, while applicants waiting for judgement will end up finishing his productive years of at least 15 years for sure and at the end what action will be initated against the m and what evidence will remain against them (provided if the witnesses or threatened or killed, or bribed to be silenced)
Is this the Judiciary system you are talking about being independant and you say you have confidence????????
@Prathiba...you ought to know why Raja and Kani are behind bars...
you think the opposition is any cleaner?
What has been returned to tax payers?
Or rather in what way has the wealth amassed by these crooks returned to the citizens of India?
Better infrastructure? Better hospitals? Better education? Has there been a better version of anything since these crooks have been put behind bars? Have you heard any proposals by any planning commission stating that money retrieved from disproportionate assets seized will be invested/used in a particular project?
As far as my knowledge goes. No.
Post a Comment