For me Corruption is definitely a serious problem in India. But Anna, his team and his concealed fascist god fathers pose a far greater problem and nuisance at the moment. As a poor middle-class someone who took on a most corrupt Sarpanch for 10 long years, will this Lok Pal come to the common man's rescue? From my experience, DEFINITELY NO. Twelve years later, I was summoned in the witness box for an FIR filed against a Sarpanch under the Prevention of Corruption Act in 1999. It took over 2 years for the police to file the charge sheet even after there was glaring evidence gathered by the Director of Panchayats. The police would not have moved had it not been for the political party backing. The case drags on 13 years later as the accused is now medically unfit to attend the court proceedings.
Lok Pal is that added false security sold to the citizens by fascist elements hoping to snatch the reigns of power in this country. Lok Pal for me is that first step in the fascist experiment to throw out democracy and install dictatorship. One Ruler, One Religion, One language, One Culture, so on and so forth. Lok Pal has little to do with the common man's trauma arising from corruption. The much talked about Lok Pal may offer an occasion for entertainment and mental satisfaction for the rich and urban middle-class who have their stomachs full. If at all it becomes a reality, it will mean nothing for the poor man down the governance chain.
Today the RTI has become an expensive affair and a tool only for those who have the time and money to pursue their corrupt prey. This is not to say that it has not helped exposed a hell lot of filth that would lie hidden for generations. The question is, who has mostly benefited? The RTI is definitely a handy tool for politicians and extortionists to embarrass and blackmail their opponents or victims. What will the unearthing of the 2G and CWG scam mean for the last man down the chain? Nothing when it finally comes to a closure. But there has been a hell lot of gain for political parties, industrialists, and of course the legal fraternity that defends the corrupt. This nation has lost crores of rupees in adjournments of Parliament and security at protest sites. This country has been deprived of more vital knowledge as media channels have been hijacked for publicity to political movements camouflaged as civil society initiatives. Important policy decisions have suffered because of these distractions that are being thrown up by the opposition to embarass the government of the day.
Similarly, the Lok Pal will also be one more addition in the countless galaxy of laws and institutions put in place to ensure transparency and accountability in governance. Like the RTI, it will be yet another tool for the political parties to score brownie points and offer economic prospects for high profile legal experts to defend the accused. What will the common man get? Except the satisfaction that one from the million rogues has been trapped depending on who gets isolated as a potential hindrance to the political designs of the conspirators against justice and peace in this nation. Will Lok Pal ensure that the foot paths are not stolen to make way for car parking for the rich? Will it penalise the officer who turns a blind eye to the violations by the rich, be it in parking their vehicle or over speeding. How will it curb adulteration of foods that gets overlooked by the food inspectors? How will it better the services at medical centres and government offices. There are several dereliction of duties which would morally qualify as corruption but cannot be weighed in terms of economic benefits. At the end of the day the prosecution requires black and white evidence.
To sum up this drama that unfurls almost everyday, Lok Pal and Anna Team are meant for harassment of the Congress party in the run up to elections so that the opposition can camouflage the fascist designs with the noise against Corruption. Corruption being an issue close to the heart of the afflicted citizens, not all citizens as claimed, it becomes easy to blur reason and stir emotions. We need to remember that cases of corruption against politicians are only meant to offer an excuse for exciting the vote banks and weaken the economic ability of undesired politicians who could upset the status quo. The recent comments of the Bombay High Court against the Anna gimmicks unfolding in Mumbai offers some solace against this growing madness that distracts the nation from more serious issues about the future of democracy. Anna's Satyagraha against corruption is more of a national nuisance and a threat to survival of democracy in this country.
-Soter D'Souza
No comments:
Post a Comment