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August 18th, 2011 
Girish Nikam 
photo- panini anand
24 hours later, Dr.Manmohan Singh and his government and also by association, the Congress party, was battling not only the issue of corruption, but also had acquired the dubious tag of being “autocratic, repressive and dictatorial”, by its mindless act of arresting the civil society activists, led by Kisan Baburao Hazare(alias Anna Hazare). They had nobody else to blame for adding to the nation’s conscience the issue of “democracy under threat” to the already full blown frustration about corruption.
The somersault 12 hours later by withdrawing all charges and allowing Hazare and company to be released from Tihar Jail also backfired badly, as the old man refused to budge, until he was released unconditionally and allowed to fast as planned. The bungling Government had no other option but to succumb to it also. But he put more conditions. In the bargain, in 24 hours, the UPA Government had turned Hazare from an anti-corruption activist to a “savior of democracy”!
The Government evidently had no idea or refused to admit to itself, the extent of dismay and frustration among the people about what is perceived as all-pervading corruption, when it asked the Delhi police to lay down unprecedented conditions for undertaking a fast by Hazare and his group. Of course, there is some substance to the argument that when a legislation is the property of the House, the best way is to take recourse to the mandated and well established parliamentary procedures to put across your point, and not resort to fast unto death and other such tactics.
In fact the Government and its supporters have a strong proponent of their point of view. None other than the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar. In his stirring concluding address to the Constituent Assembly, before it adopted the newly written Indian Constitution on Nov.25,1949, the great man made these remarks, which has abundant significance in the present context. He said:
“If we wish to maintain democracy not merely in form, but also in fact, what must we do? The first thing in my judgement we must do is to hold fast to constitutional methods of achieving our social and economic objectives. It means we must abandon the bloody methods of revolution. It means that we must abandon the method of civil disobedience, non-cooperation and satyagraha. When there was no way left for constitutional methods for achieving economic and social objectives, there was a great deal of justification for unconstitutional methods. But where constitutional methods are open, there can be no justification for these unconstitutional methods. These methods are nothing but the Grammar of Anarchy and the sooner they are abandoned, the better for us”.
However the advice of Dr.Ambedkar has gone un-heeded all these years, and Hazare and his lot have also shown utter disdain, especially when they have insisted that the Lok Pal Bill should be what they think it should be and nothing less. And based on this adamant (almost bordering on a childish tantrum ) stand, Hazare and company have sought to impose their views on the Parliament and millions of people who don’t agree with his views. The methods that Dr.Ambedkar above refers to as the “grammar of anarchy”.
It is important to mention here that the Jan Lok Pal Bill cannot be the ultimate, as there are equally eminent people including jurists and lawyers of the stature of former Chief Justices of India, J.S.Verma and M.N.Venkatachalaiah, former Delhi High Court Chief Justice A.P.Shah, Soli Sorabjee, Harish Salve, former Lok Sabha Speakers Somnath Chatterjee and P.A.Sangma and distinguished social activist Aruna Roy, to name a few, who have differences on key issues in it. All of the above named, don’t think either the judiciary or the Prime Minister should come within the ambit of the Lok Pal. So for Hazare and his cohorts to say that those who are opposed to their idea are supporters of corruption, is appalling and completely authoritarian. One is reminded of the infamous statement of George Bush, the former President of United States, when he said, “if you are not with us, you are against us”.
Unfortunately, these key issues that need discussion and wider consultation have been relegated to the background by the completely tactless approach of the UPA Government, in trying to muffle Hazare. In the bargain, they have managed to bestow on Hazare the halo of a warrior for “democratic values”, when his track record as a democrat itself has been under serious suspicion. His former colleagues and fellow travellers confirm it. Please watch this video to understand why there are such suspicions about him (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD7fCRY7J94), if any proof is necessary after his unyielding “me and only my bill” attitude he has adopted.
However, that the UPA Government has been found woefully inadequate in convincing the people about its intentions, even after it has brought the Bill to the Parliament, as Hazare had demanded earlier, is due to the complete lack of understanding of the processes of democracy. The top decision-makers in the Government and the Congress party, who have brought the situation to this sorry state of affairs are all very articulate lawyers, alright. But it is apparent from the way they have bungled along, from first ignoring Hazare’s fast, then serenading him by forming the joint committee without any opposition members in it, later sucking up to Ramdev only to conduct a midnight raid on his camp, and now abusing Hazare and later arresting him and releasing him, and yet getting stuck, are all clear indications of a thinking process which has no understanding of the political processes in a democracy.
What is needed is not legalistic-bureaucratic approach to a political problem, but an ideologically-sound and democratically-convincing political approach which understands the pulse of the people. The tragedy is that the present leadership both in the Government and the Congress party do not want to rely on people who have such attributes within and the result is there for all to see—the “grammar of anarchy” gaining ground, as Hazare and company keep shifting the goal post at will.
Posted in
well written- but two things:
1. it continues to repose faith in the very process that is being criticised – in other words, when there is really no parliamentary process since most issues are decided BEFORE they are tabled in the parliament, it’s irresponsible to simply chant the mantra – “trust the parliamentary process” without asking for it to be scrutinized -
2. The Ambedkar quote is a naive endorsement of secular constitutionalism and seems a thinly veiled attack on Gandhi, who had actually foreseen how the Parliament was a flawed institution in his 1909 Hind Swaraj – he had in fact called it a prostitute (the only word he was willing to change in the entire text) since it was a pawn of lobby politics in the UK (just as it has been in India for a while now). What does it mean when the entire party decides to go pro-nuclear deal (no inner party dissent) and the BJP also goes along (we know the nuclear commerce lobby in the US had set aside pocket change of 10,000 crores to buys these people up)?
Let us not close history – there might be better instruments of democracy than Parliament – if the hazare episode throws up some mechanism that is an improvement over the existing system, great! Otherwise, it would have been an important attempt to tell the people in power that ordinary people matter -
Chandan
while, I generally appreciate all your articles, this articles seems more so inclined to the likes of Sibal and DigVijay Singh. Today those people are an example of how the things should not be. And, if Anna is demanding a stronger Lokpal bill what is wrong with that. Everyone tries to hide behind a quote called ‘his bill or no bill’ but, no one really tries to see the points being made. This is naivety to its best. Moreover, the a stronger Lokpal bill is going to benefit YOU Mr. Nikam; so also consider that. It is not necessary for him to go on strike for benefit of YOU, ME and ALL the young generation. He is an ailing old man, and if he choses, he can go and settle in Ralegaon Siddhi. Similarly, Mr. Kejriwal with his IIT, IRS position can get a job in any private company as CEO and lead a peaceful life. Think about these aspects instead of going and telling how unconstitutional things are that is doing and specifically mentioning words like ‘Childish Tantrum’; this was the last I had expected from your site. More so, you being a reporter would know, how horrible things are in the system. And, if all you avid bloggers start a rant that this is undemocratic, then is DOING and CONDUCTING CORRUPTION very democratic. Give a thought, and if you feel what I have written is childish and naive then nothing more I can add.
Vivek
We all have become prisoners of Democracy. This compels us to build groups to make our voice heard. In today’s world, any group building attracts people of Good character and also questionable ones. I am sure that not even one politician exists today, who has no questionable background.
The Govt shoudl be above individuals–and that is where UPA has faulted. With all pervading Corruption,people were waiting for an opportunity for expressing their frustration, and they found a crusader-hence the mass movement. Maybe media is digging up to indicate wht Anna is not clean/unselfish as he is showcased, but he is certainly better than most others who are questioning his credentials.
The Govt as an institution, could have included many other eminent persons (non-political) during the so called discussions with Civil society. This could have deflated any one sided arguments. Maybe they could have circulated the Other’s views on Lokpal while tabling the current bill-to openup a debate.Maybe they should have waited till Anna violated the restrictions, before arresting–many maybes. Because of these Maybes in the minds of people, the Govts intentions ar suspected.
Certainly Congress (UPA being silent)trying to Slander Anna thru its spokesperson has not helped it’s cause. Nor has BJP (and other oppositions) seizing this opportunity to score Politically. Surprisingly, no party (other than Congress)has expressed Publicly their stated positions on the differences in Lokpal Bill. Corruption has the potential to become the Driver/Slogan for the next elections to be fought.
Media has a great responsibility is mobilizing the support of the people for the right cause, but continues to see as a fodder to keep themseleves occupied.
If Martin Luther King could walk thestreets of Washington DC and deliver historic speeches, What are we up to.?
The whole thing is that so far nobodyhas taken the problem seriously and imaginatively and still no solution insight!!!.
Regards,
Dr.S.K.Pachauri
Good piece . Incisive analysis ..
Venkitesh Ramakrishnan
बेहतरीन आलेख। इसमें मौजूदा समस्या के प्रति बहुत ही निष्पक्ष दृष्टिकोण है। इसे अन्ना और सरकार दोनों के समर्थकों और विरोधियों को पढ़ना चाहिए।
Thanks Girish,
A very interesting article. I wish people quote what Dr Ambedkar said. Are we moving towards anarchy.
Has someone made a study of the personality of Anna Hazare?
warm good wishes,
ramamohan
The dividing line between Democracy and Anarchy is a very fine one indeed, and there’s the ever present danger of overlaps to serve anyone’s agenda.
In the present drama, neither side comes out smelling of roses . As heard on t.V. last night, its “Arrogance of Power versus Arrogance of the sanctimonious”. So getting worked up , taking sides, getting into battle mode etc.are not going to promote anything positive unless and until truly concerned , level headed people from both sides, discarding their egos , agree to sit down across the table and hammer out a policy which is workable and benefits India at large. And all those crowds shouting patriotic slogans would do well to do some introspection and take a pledge of unwavering integrity in their own social transactions.
May good sense prevail.
dear girish,
I think the sheer adamance(not so much the arrogance of power and arrogance of sacntimony)on both sides, fuelled by the middle class anger has created this impasse, an ideal ground for the cynical politics and a sick TRP oriented media to go to paint the town red.
good sense will prevail if the IAC will shed its sanctimony.
good sense will prevail if the parliament rises above cynicism and functions with sobriety.
good sense will prevail if the media rises above its market dividends.
above all good sense will prevail if the angry middle class pauses to think clearly and not be tossed around from all sides concerned.
Vasant
I agree with your analysis and recommendations. This issue has been handled very ineptly by the present government. i dare say that any self-respecting District Magistrate could have handled Baba and Anna situations in a very mature manner.
girish,
totally agree with your views; both the UPA and Anna are being totalitarian and autocratic. and unfortunately the middle class is lapping up this nautanki, probably as a good break from the daily soap that all watch.
Sowmya
Sorry to see that u equate gandhian satyagraha with suicide just like
the british of the past and UPA of today, quote ambedkar against
satyagraha who himself resorted to the same against british and for
dalits, and take a stand against anna personally whose movement has so
far brought some 2 millions on the streets including dabbawalas in
mumbai to vice presidents of hp barclays and infosys among others. My
respect for u as a critical observer and dispassionate journo has
taken a severe beating.
Ujjwal
Thank you Girish for your highly balanced analysis on Anna phenomenon. Today I spoke in a function at Mysore expressing some of the doubts on Anna`s wish to be a extra constitutional power. You have very aptly focused on the technical concerns regarding the Jan Lokpal bill and the Democratic process. I was in a bit confusion on my thinking line on Anna’s methodology. Your writing has given me a relief.
-Dr. Banjagere Jayaprakash
Dear Girishji, namaste.
All that Hazare’s team wants is not to give immunity to any one legally. Is it extra-constitutional?. If Raja does what he has done, and if one says PM has nothing to do with it all, then how can Prime Minister’s post if different from other ministers?. If Judges and especially top beuractrats, are out of it then for whose sake this bill is? Remember, Santosh Hegde was appointed by BSY’s government, but he did not oblige BSY!.
As for Ambedkar, we quote him whereever it suits us. He was against reservastion, I believe.
With Regards
Dr.Baliga:
Well said, Dr. Baliga.
संतुलित लेख के लिए बधाई.
अन्ना ने चुनाव के शोर-गुल से काफी पहले फिर से यह एहसास कराया कि संप्रभुता जनता में ही है. जनता से ही संसद बनती है और जनता के लिए ही है. हो सकता है कि अन्ना के आन्दोलन के स्वरूप को लेकर कुछ लोगों (विशेषकर कानूनी लोग) को कई दिक्कते दिखाई दे रहीं हो. हमे हमेशा याद रखना चाहिए जितने भी बड़े बदलाव होते हैं वे मौजूदा व्यवस्था के बाहर ही जा कर होते हैं.
संसद के पास अभी वक्त है. भ्रष्टाचार को ख़तम करें. नहीं तो जनता में फैली निराशा का लाभ संसद और लोकतंत्र विरोधी ताकतें (विशेषकर नक्सली) उठा सकती हैं.