The path breaking and unique initiative to include members of civil society in the drafting of the anti-corruption Lok Pal Bill appears to have gone off the track and in danger of being completely derailed if better sense does not prevail among the stakeholders. In fact after much bargaining and public pressure, Anna Hazare and his team could finally get the government of India to notify on the formation of the committee to draft the long awaited Lok Pal Bill. That both sides had come together for taking the much needed initiative forward was demonstrated with the initial round of official meetings. Though there were known differences over the contents of the bill, the joint committee was in a positive frame of mind to get on with its assigned task of presenting the Lok Pal Bill in the Monsoon session of Parliament. There was also no question of the UPA government backtracking on this commitment. Then the problem started ever since Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev entered the fray with his own set of agenda—this time on black money. While the government initially assured Ramdev on taking steps to address the agenda on black money, the Baba obviously wanted more than just assurance. He wanted to mobilize as much of publicity and started making unreasonable demands. The government obviously decided enough was enough and it had to do what was needed—to try and bring some semblance of order and decorum and focus on the real issue. Unfortunately, Anna Hazare and his group, who were already, part of a dialogue mechanism to work on the Lok Pal Bill, tried to play knight in shining armor coming to the rescue of Ramdev. Rather than remain engaged with the government, Anna Hazare went overboard drumming support for Ramdev’s questionable cause. Team Hazare must choose between finishing the noble task of framing the all important Lok Pal Bill or getting into controversial dilly dallying with the Yoga Guru.
Rightly so the Congress led UPA government is unhappy with the sometimes ‘unreasonable’ diktats of the civil society groups. And no one is doing any one a favour by stepping on each others feet whether it is the Congress government or the civil society led by Anna Hazare. Taunting each other through a paper war in the media has to stop. Anna Hazare's statement that he would resume fast if the proposed bill was not passed by August 15 is quite unfair. In fact at the height of the Ramdev episode, Hazare and his team decided to boycott the planned meeting of the joint committee. By doing so the civil society cannot always blame the government for delay in finishing the assigned task. Anna Hazare must quickly decide whether it wants to work with the present government in jointly putting together an important legislation for fighting corruption. Hazare should stand guard against those ‘forces’ who are out to derail the anti-corruption crusade, which was given prominence and direction by him. Whatever differences there is should be sorted out reasonably within the inner sanctorum of the committee appointed to work on the Lok Pal Bill. After the slight disturbance coming from the Ramdev drama, both sides should get back to business and re-enter into the process of completing the drafting of the Lok Pal Bill. Inimical forces should not be allowed to hijack the anti-corruption crusade.
Rightly so the Congress led UPA government is unhappy with the sometimes ‘unreasonable’ diktats of the civil society groups. And no one is doing any one a favour by stepping on each others feet whether it is the Congress government or the civil society led by Anna Hazare. Taunting each other through a paper war in the media has to stop. Anna Hazare's statement that he would resume fast if the proposed bill was not passed by August 15 is quite unfair. In fact at the height of the Ramdev episode, Hazare and his team decided to boycott the planned meeting of the joint committee. By doing so the civil society cannot always blame the government for delay in finishing the assigned task. Anna Hazare must quickly decide whether it wants to work with the present government in jointly putting together an important legislation for fighting corruption. Hazare should stand guard against those ‘forces’ who are out to derail the anti-corruption crusade, which was given prominence and direction by him. Whatever differences there is should be sorted out reasonably within the inner sanctorum of the committee appointed to work on the Lok Pal Bill. After the slight disturbance coming from the Ramdev drama, both sides should get back to business and re-enter into the process of completing the drafting of the Lok Pal Bill. Inimical forces should not be allowed to hijack the anti-corruption crusade.
