Anna Hazare - A Bundle of Confusion?

With every passing day, Anna's opinion seems to oscillate. He first issues a certificate of Exemplary Governance to Modi and Nitish. When severely criticised, he takes a trip to Gujarat where Medha Patkar was fasting for justice on an issue and does a reverse sweep. He launches his crusade for the Jan Lok Pal Bill, mind you not against Corruption but for his Bill that he thinks will arrest corruption, on a platform decorated with a huge portrait of Bharat Mata and amidst slogans of Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata ki Jai. He proclaims that Bhagat Singh and Rajguru are his role models while the media desperately projects the Anna as a Gandhian. When again criticised, the Bharat Mata disappears and a huge portrait of Mahatma Gandhi is substituted at Ram Lila grounds. But the shouting of slogans like Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata ki jai just refused to cease. It was obvious as to why. We have seen several turn arounds on his demands during that 12-day fast that almost brought down the government.

Now, when the possible links of the Anti-Corruption movement with the communal forces becomes almost impossible to deny, we have another googly bowled probably as a face saving exercise. His IAC declares that Communalism is the greatest problem. It is to be noted that it is the IAC led by Anna Hazare that makes this disclosure and not Anna Hazare himself. Whether Anna is in complete agreement with this view is yet unknown. There are several reports doing the rounds that the IAC team in the past has made certain decisions which Anna had not necessarily endorsed. So whether this sudden change of heart is genuine or just another stunt to win back the support of minorities and dalits who have just backed off after the Jantar Mantar circus ia to be seen. "Why not raise more inclusive slogans like Hindustan Zindabad or Jai Hind," asked Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid.

Now, should it be a genuine belief of Anna Hazare that Communalism is a far greater evil that is consuming the Indian society from within, then what is he going to do about it? Anna Hazare has possibly got himself into bigger trouble. If communalism was a bigger threat to India than corruption, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, asks Anna Hazare "why he and his campaign managers did not do more to involve Muslims in their anti-graft movement" Will Anna take up an indefinite fast to ensure that justice is done to the 2002 riot victims of Gujarat? Will Anna Hazare also demand for a strong Anti-communalism Bill to be put in place within a time frame?

Mere utterances will not help redeem the credibility of Anna Hazare and his movement. All the same he must be given a chance to demonstrate that he truly believes in what he and his team claim in public. Rhetoric is one aspect in a movement. What is in the heart of the leaders is what will determine the ultimate course of events. But with a man having no ideology of his own, a mere creation of the media and glamour industry as a second Gandhi, one can aspect this swing like a pendulum.

To sum up, and with due respect to the man, Anna Hazare has now turned out to be a bundle of confusion and contradictions which was expected.



Soter D'souza