Anna Hazare s Tools

The purpose behind the movement started by Gandhian Anna Hazare is legal. His methodology to drive the movement and his demands are not. Fasting in the present day democratic system is a futile exercise and the manner in which it is being presented is not giving any positive signs. It is quite misleading when he uses the Gandhian approach of fasting. Gandhi Ji fasted against imperial rule in an undemocratic society. Today s society is democratic. The nature of present day political system is not being understood by team Anna Anna Hazare is trying to create a parallel system by use of unacceptable means. How many such parallel systems do we need? We have a well defined structure at all levels of the Government. Tomorrow after creation of the new ombudsman, who will assure its working? When we know the answer, why don t we put efforts to strengthen the prevalent system? How many checkpoints are we trying to create? If we keep on increasing the number of check points, it will lead to further corruption as it will only create confusion. It will become difficult to establish Accountability. Anna Hazare has rightly put forward his submissions before the Government which have been also noted. Now it is time to stop raising unreasonable demands as it will lead to further unrest in the society. Is it not right that an effort is being made to create another Bureau for investigation & Adjudication? Instead we must work together to bring more force in the present system. Arms of Democracy must be strengthened to bring an end to corruption. The Press and The Right to Information Act are tools which are available to ordinary citizens. More attention must be paid to such tools to confront Corruption. Corruption cannot end in a day. There is a need for a consistent push to bring a change. Anna Hazare s supporters have a right to march in big numbers. It is appreciable that their numbers create a consciousness about corruption. But are the specific demands being raised by them will be of any help to remove corruption?

25th August 2011

Arpit Batra, Advocate