Capt. Shaji Kumar

Anna Hazare’s Crusade bears fruit. Politicians down on their knees (if most of them can manage that). It was too good to be true. With all the Politicians making the right noises, pledging solidarity, trying to put the 1.21 Billion at peace that they would comply and bow down before their masters, i.e. the citizens (a minority at least) who have given them their ticket to corruption. Who would like to lose this license ? Give up these privileges. What right do the People of this Country have in challenging their “powers”.

It is not going to be that easy. This certainly is going to be a long drawn War. The first round has actually gone to the ‘wily’ politicians. In India the Politicians are too crafty and the Public quite gullible. And the Politicians know this for a fact, they have used it since long to garner votes and create “wealth”.

The Assembly Elections will be over in one Month, thereafter the machinery of obliteration would be set into motion. The Artillery fire has already started. Discredit the crusaders. Create doubts in the minds of the people. Disrupt and grovel. The Politicians sure do stand United, in all such “noble” causes. It remains to be seen if the Citizens of this Country can Unite, to stand up to its Public Servants. It would be a pity if we can’t fight it out.

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Location:New Delhi

An incident in Tunisia, triggered the Lotus Revolution which has transformed the Arab World. A similar movement in India, started by Anna Hazare saw the Political parties and Politicians clamour for cover and jump onto the Anna Bandwagon. The Politicians are certainly no fools. They know the significance of the times that are a changing, and most of them are a great deal worried too. It is this movement which should gather momentum and spread. Anna Hazare’s crusade in Jantar Mantar saw an unprecedented turnout both physically and morally supporting the cause. Unfortunately it is a majority of this very lot which refrain from exercising their “right to vote”, resigned to a foregone conclusion that whatever may be the outcome it is the corrupt who will govern. Are we so happy letting the corrupt on either side of the river stand in the magnificient Ashoka Hall and take oath to uphold the Office. The smirk and the disdain, the values can certainly be reasserted and upheld – only if we take a serious part in the overall process of the Government formation.

The Media is doing its bit in uncovering the muck behind the curtains, what once was iron clad is now quite fragmented. A turnout as we have seen in the recent Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu & Kerala where over 80% of the voters turned out to exercise their right to appoint their “Public Servants”. But then why only 80%, why not 100% or 95%. Does it not matter to the rst of the 20% as to who comes and does the job. Can we be so sacrosant when we deal with our employees. If the performance is below par, we shoot of Warning Letters and if caution does not work the jobs are lost. Are we not paying the Politicians money to work for us, then why do we not conduct an Annual Appraisal and make them earn their Salary ? If Bureaucrats are accountable so are the Politicians. They have no right whatsoever to use the privileges and perks and not Perform. It has to be a Perform or Perish mantra for the Pliticians. In fact they should be made to pay a heavy penalty if they are found lacking.

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Location:New Delhi

Over the last week, Anna Hazare has created a furore in the Country. Especially within the political circles. Politicians are falling in line and are making the right statements, because there is no other alternative. How things will eventually shape up however remains to be seen. At least for now all seems to be on the right track.

The other day, someone send some details over the LinkedIN, and urged to spread the message regarding Anna Hazare & the Lokpal Bill. It is an information worth spreading, hence the information as under :

Who is Anna Hazare?
He is an Ex-Army man. Had fought in the 1965 Indo-Pak War.

What’s so special about him?
He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahmad Nagar district, Maharashtra. This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills. In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest village in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village.

Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is quite well known for his social activities.

He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb CORRUPTION in India. He is advocating for a Bill, The Lok Pal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill), which will lead to the formation of an autonomous body, which will have the authority to make politicians (Ministers), bureaucrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their activities.

In 1972, the bill was proposed by the then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit/safeguard their interests.

What Anna Hazare hopes to achieve for now is that :

1. The government should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed.
2. The Government should make a joint committee to DRAFT the LOK PAL BILL. 50% goverment participation and 50% public participation. Because you cannot trust the government or the Politicians to be entirely honest while drafting such a bill. There is a lot of vested interests involved.

What will happen when this bill is passed ?
A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. The Lok Pal would have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every State, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party / individual to trial in case of corruption within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, that has been going for last 25 years without any result.

Scepticism would prevail on the eventual success of the Lokpal Ayukta. But the need of the hour is to experiment and try out methodologies to bring about an end to this blatant misuse of power and the alarming spurt in Corruption. The scale is both mind boggling and preposterous. Everyone seems to be either morally dubious and ethically suspect. There appears to be no upper limit to greed, and hence the rampant growth in corruption. Let us hope and wish for the success of this endeavour which can save us from financial anarchy. It is the least we can do, even if we are averse to getting embroiled in such socially relevant activities directly. It is time we we changed our thinking from ,”How does it matter?” To It indeed does affect and affect us and we should start questioning!!!

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Location:New Delhi

Resilience, grit, determination and an innate sense of responsibility has translated into a stupendous victory for the Anti Corruption / Graft movement led by Mr. Anna Hazare. But we must develop this sense of responsibility and let this grand old man who has always taken up cudgels in the past finally realize that the spark that he and the likes of him have been kindling has finally caught fire, and now we would not accept the circumstances in futile resignation, but be ready to stand up and fight.

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Location:New Delhi

Will Anna Hazare be able to successfully complete his swan song ?

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