The Whole Lokpal Debate!
Good intentions don't always lead to good results, unless they are backed by deep, balanced thinking and smart actions.
Team Anna's intentions are no doubt, good. I differ with people who oppose Anna on grounds like, "He is questioning supremacy of parliament", "He is dictating / blackmailing parliament" or "First we should stop paying bribes and then talk".
I feel the last one is especially idiotic. As an individual, I really don't have an option not to pay a bribe if I am pushed into a corner. People who pay bribes don't do it with pride and happiness, they do it with seething anger. That is the anger you see pouring out on the streets in support of Anna Hazare.
Regarding parliament, well, I agree that this type of putting a gun onto Parliament's head and asking for something is not exactly a good thing to do. But who pushed things into this state? If Government and Parliament has worked the way it was supposed to work, where was the need for Anna Hazare to fast for a legislation? If Anna had not fasted, no one would have even thought of Lokpal or any other anti-corruption measure. Something would have happened, but at a pace so slow that a snail would move at a faster pace.
Credit is certainly due to Anna Hazare for the awakening that is there amongst Indians today on corruption.
But still, I don't think Jan Lokpal is a complete answer to this. With amendments, Jan Lokpal would be one piece in the anti-corruption architecture. The other pieces have to be administrative and electoral reforms.
First, the reason corruption is there in India is because of our age-old, leaking, and out-of-tune-with-times administrative mechanism. A citizen or even business groups as we have seen in 2G case, may not have a choice but to grease the various powerful palms. Genuine administrative reforms can bring down corruption to a large extent. Doing away with governmental discretionary powers is also part of administrative reforms.
Second, transparent funding of political parties has to be allowed. State funding of elections should be considered. This, along with a strong Lokpal would work. A standalone Lokpal without all this would be handicapped in tackling corruption.
But credit for the fact that there is serious debate on this should go to Anna Hazare. Without him and his fast, no one would even be talking about this.
Team Anna's intentions are no doubt, good. I differ with people who oppose Anna on grounds like, "He is questioning supremacy of parliament", "He is dictating / blackmailing parliament" or "First we should stop paying bribes and then talk".
I feel the last one is especially idiotic. As an individual, I really don't have an option not to pay a bribe if I am pushed into a corner. People who pay bribes don't do it with pride and happiness, they do it with seething anger. That is the anger you see pouring out on the streets in support of Anna Hazare.
Regarding parliament, well, I agree that this type of putting a gun onto Parliament's head and asking for something is not exactly a good thing to do. But who pushed things into this state? If Government and Parliament has worked the way it was supposed to work, where was the need for Anna Hazare to fast for a legislation? If Anna had not fasted, no one would have even thought of Lokpal or any other anti-corruption measure. Something would have happened, but at a pace so slow that a snail would move at a faster pace.
Credit is certainly due to Anna Hazare for the awakening that is there amongst Indians today on corruption.
But still, I don't think Jan Lokpal is a complete answer to this. With amendments, Jan Lokpal would be one piece in the anti-corruption architecture. The other pieces have to be administrative and electoral reforms.
First, the reason corruption is there in India is because of our age-old, leaking, and out-of-tune-with-times administrative mechanism. A citizen or even business groups as we have seen in 2G case, may not have a choice but to grease the various powerful palms. Genuine administrative reforms can bring down corruption to a large extent. Doing away with governmental discretionary powers is also part of administrative reforms.
Second, transparent funding of political parties has to be allowed. State funding of elections should be considered. This, along with a strong Lokpal would work. A standalone Lokpal without all this would be handicapped in tackling corruption.
But credit for the fact that there is serious debate on this should go to Anna Hazare. Without him and his fast, no one would even be talking about this.
True. The bill is just beginning of the journey to end corruption. Its a long journey. Nevertheless its a good start and we should try to keep the momentum going by punishing the corrupt ministers and politicians severely (strip their wealth, make them not contest in elections etc..) which could help. Lets hope that this brings some change....
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