Will the Jan Lokpal prove to be a magic wand in removing corruption?

Anna Hazare’s fast at Ramlila Maidan had a profound impact in Punjab, Haryana and their joint Capital Chandigarh, forcing the politicians of the region to take a call and then keep changing their stance depending on the direction the wind was blowing.

This was due to the fact that a lot of players on either side of the divide – team Anna or the Congress and even the BJP have a Chandigarh, Punjab or Haryana connect. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has to take a political stand on the Jan Lokpal, has a house in Chandigarh and so does Ambika Soni and Kapil Sibal who left no stones unturned to undermine Anna’s effort. The man who generated a sympathy wave in favour of Anna by describing him as “corrupt from head to toe”, Manish Tewari, too hails from the city and is an MP from Ludhiana. Pawan Kumar Bansal, the parliamentary affairs minister is the local MP.

On the other side of the divide, Kiran Bedi has her roots and family in Amritsar while Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, who initiated the debate from the BJP in Lok Sabha on Saturday has a Chandigarh and Haryana connect, hailing from Ambala. Even the friend turned critic of the movement, Swami Agnivesh hails from Haryana and so does Swami Ramdev, who extended his support to Anna after he was himself forcibly evicted from the same Ramlila Maidan.

With the movement and the accompanying media coverage going on for days together, there were changes in the position of the prominent parties in the region – Shiromani Akal Dal, Congress, BJP and the INLD.

But at the end of the day, it turned out to be the pot calling the kettle black. Several leaders, themselves battling severe charges of irregularities, facing a series of court cases and CBI investigations on corruption, have started supporting Anna Hazare. In a twist of irony, INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala came out openly in support of Anna and disrupted the proceedings of the Assembly asking for a resolution on the Jan Lokpal Bill even as a CBI court in Delhi was framing charges against him and his son. Perhaps the intention of some of the politicians could be to wash off their past sins of corruption in the Anna wave, sweeping the country.

Chautala is not alone. There are others too. I am not pointing fingers at anyone as almost all politically aware citizens of the north, and a majority of the population comes in this category, know who is facing court cases and where. Some of them played a role in belittling Anna’s effort at Ramlila Maidan by publicly supporting him like the Punjab’s very own Monika Bedi, the wife (no one knows if she has become former wife) of notorious gangster Abu Salem. It would have been better had they remained neutral in the entire episode. This would have served them and Anna better.

Fighting anti-incumbency in poll bound Punjab, the Parkash Singh Badal government also rode on the Anna wave and supported the Jan Lokpal Bill. The Akali Dal thinks that with Anna hogging the limelight and his movement clearly against the Congress and the UPA, its coalition with BJP has a serious chance of coming back to power in the state as the Congress remains the only opposition in Punjab. While Badal wanted the PM out of Jan Lokpal in the initial days of the fast, he changed tracks and at the concluding stages, wanted the PM too in the ambit of the Bill

A party repeating its poll performance might not have happened in Punjab for several decades now, but Anna’s effort and its cascading effect in Punjab has given a lifeline to the Badal government. So much so that the political analysts in the region and even the bureaucrats, who are the first to sense which way the political wind is blowing, are not sure about the outcome at this point of time. For them it is a 50:50 after the latest turn of events.

The SAD points out that Anna is asking for the implementation of a Citizen’s charter with a time bound delivery of services. They say that Punjab has done it and are all set to blow their trumpet all the way till the Assembly elections conclude in February. The SAD leaders say that corruption as an issue has become the single most important issue in Punjab and it was here that it has an advantage.

Sensing that the anti-graft crusade indeed has merits and the SAD was attempting to take benefits from its fallout, the Punjab Congress, after dismissing it initially discovered that Anna indeed had rare qualities and sympathised with the septuagenarian. PCC chief Captain Amarinder Singh charged the Badals with corruption and kept repeating it in his press conferences throughout the duration of the fast at Ramlila Maidan.

Ever since the Anna crescendo began, the Vigilance Bureau in both Punjab and Haryana became active catching one patwari here and an SP somewhere. Revenue officials were also caught along with those of the Power department and other low level functionaries to show their seriousness in tackling graft. The CBI too swung into action and caught two Punjab Police Services Officers in Chandigarh to show that it too was quite serious on tackling the menace and does not merely act on political pressure.

But I am not sure what would happen once the media hype gets over, Anna returns to Ralegaon-Siddhi in Maharashtra and the Bedis, Kejriwals and Bhushans go back to their primary jobs.

Cynics here argue that the politicians have made enough in all these years in power and this would last them a few generations – the proverbial seven generations if not more. They do not need anything now even if the proposed Lokpal indeed becomes a panacea of all ills in the society as is being projected by the team Anna and corruption as a word would have to be removed from the Indian variants of the Oxford dictionary.

Cynics could say what they want. But one thing is for sure. Corruption as an issue per se is as old as 1000 BC if not more. Everyone since time immemorial wanted an end to it. People, nevertheless, would watch the face which is speaking against corruption to be assured of sincerity and give a positive electoral verdict. I am not sure there are many.

http://dailypioneer.com/363969/Will-Jan-Lokpal-prove-to-be-a-magic-wand-in-removing-corruption.html

Anti-graft crusade catches attention but miles to go

VIEWPOINT

August 20, 2011 11:11:12 PM

AMITABH SHUKLA

Anna Hazare has caught the imagination of not only the people of Delhi but also of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Protests were held all across the region against corruption, the arrest of Anna and in favour of a Jan Lokpal.

None of the protesters blocked traffic anywhere nor did they show signs of ugliness and hooliganism, part of most political protests. They merely sat on dharna near the Chandigarh roundabouts and with smiles on their faces, waived the national flag, urging people passing by to support the septuagenarian anti-graft crusader.

At one place near the Rajiv Gandhi Technology Park, a demonstrator carried a placard asking the motorists to blow horn to express their support for a Jan Lokpal. The passing motorists, obliged, merrily blowing the horn several times, much to the delight of the traffic police personnel and the pedestrians. Those driving trucks, autorickshwas, luxury cars, Activa, motorcycles or the 600 and 800cc cars — all felt that they too were involved in the churning going on at the national level. The Anna supporter, carrying the placard, acknowledged the support and waived at the new ‘converts’ to the cause.

Imbibing their Delhi counterparts, the Chandigarh Administration had imposed Section 144 in the city, prohibiting the assembly of five or more people. But given the national mood and the mood of the city residents, it did not care to implement the law and looked the other way round whenever and wherever the peaceful sit-ins of Anna sympathisers took place.At some other places, the number of police personnel outnumbered those who were waiving flags but the message was not lost. Students of Panjab University and students of colleges decided not to attend their classes to take part in the flag waiving at roundabouts and motor cycle rallies in the day time and candle march during the evening at the Sector 17 market.

Sometimes, I wonder where the protests will take us to. Is there a long term vision in team Anna or is it merely a flash in the pan for only one cause - Jan Lokpal. Beyond this, do they have any idea what to do and how to go about on an issue. When I had joined Delhi University, Vishwanath Pratap Singh had emerged as an anti-graft icon. He held a rally at Maurice Nagar, the heart of Delhi University with his Jan Morcha colleagues - the likes of Arun Nehru and Arif Mohammed Khan. The students, including me, lapped every word. They shouted slogans against corruption and built a movement which led to the defeat of Congress and Rajiv Gandhi was dethroned as the Prime Minister. Bofors was the drumbeat on which VP Singh catapulted himself to power.

No sooner had he come to power, Singh brought in the Mandal Commission from the dusty shelves, not for the love of OBCs but to fight a political battle against the OBC satraps who were dictating terms. Singh wanted to prolong his political career through Mandal, it collapsed like a house of cards in no time. The same students, who had hailed Singh as a messiah, dubbed him as one of the biggest villains of the country and organised one of the fiercest anti-Government protests which lingered on for over three months in the national Capital. The dream of the youth had been shattered. Some aspects of the movement then and the social bitterness it created were aptly captured by film-maker Prakash Jha in his latest movie Aarakshan.

Twenty-one years after the fiasco of VP Singh, it is only now that the youth feel that the Gandhian approach of Anna could steer the country on the path of progress. They might not understand the nuances of a Jan Lokpal but feel that if corruption comes to an end, there is a better future for every individual, every citizen of the country. But for this, even team Anna has to come out with a perspective beyond Jan Lokpal. The institution may not be a panacea for all the ills plaguing the country. They cannot let down the youth of the country after bringing them on the streets.

There are undoubtedly, Doubting Thomases. Some even doubt whether corruption exists in society at all. They just want the existing laws and institutions to take care of graft, conveniently forgetting that they have so far failed to do so. Interacting with some officials, I found that the bureaucracy in particular has doubts about Anna and they are expressing it openly. They say that this will lead to nowhere and unnecessarily a mass hysteria is being generated. Some of them genuinely argue that this will let lose a ‘mobocracy’ as the Indian democracy is only 64 years old, not mature enough to tackle such mobs and dictatorship of an individual in the garb of mass support.

One of the Anna sympathisers said that those with vested interests, those who are averse to change and those who think that an effective Jan Lokpal could reach them, their houses, their properties, their lockers and bank deposits are criticising the Gandhian’s anti-graft crusade.

But people also want a vision beyond Jan Lokpal. Team Anna has already said that it was averse of joining the political process and won’t contest elections. In India, even if you do not like, democracy is the only method of governance we know and we do not want to replace it with mobocracy or anything similar to it. Anna will have to co-opt the existing political forces, be ready for being co-opted by one of them or alternatively begin his own version of a political outfit. The real test of team Anna would be in the heat and dust of the electoral field with a long term vision and not merely on Jantar Mantar, Ramlila Maidan and in front of the TV cameras on the streets. (The writer is Senior Editor, The Pioneer, Chandigarh)

http://dailypioneer.com/362259/Anti-graft-crusade-catches-attention-but-miles-to-go.html

Aarakshan a no show as audiences give it a miss

August 12, 2011 10:11:24 PM

Amitabh Shukla | Chandigarh

It began as a bang but ended in a whimper. Prakash Jha’s controversial film Aarakshan, which has been banned in Punjab, failed to find enough audience on the opening day in Chandigarh on Friday.

Despite the controversy surrounding the movie and the ban extended by Punjab and earlier Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, the enthusiasm amongst the cine-goers was missing.

It was expected to set the cash registers ringing in the movie theatres and multiplexes in the city due to the controversy. The Multiplexes in Chandigarh were in fact expecting a huge rush from people in Punjab. They had to remain disappointed as only 50-60 percent of the theatres were full for the film.

“The show of the movie before noon was very disappointing. The theatre was only 40 per cent full. The controversy has not helped it a bit. You could say the theatres were only half full,” a staff member of DT Cinema here said.

Ironically, there was no demand for banning the Amitabh Bachchan, Sai Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone starred film in Punjab and the state government banned it on its own volition. A senior official said that the government was perhaps “inspired” by UP, the BSP ruled state, which was the first to extend a ban on the film.

In fact, an organisation called “Chamar Maha Sabha” which glorifies the dalit community and feels proud to associate with the word Chamar, which is not used commonly and is considered demeaning by many, wanted the early release of the film as it portrayed a true picture of the country and highlighted the backwardness of the dalits and OBCs.

A specially constituted committee of the Punjab government may have watched the film and recommended the continuation of the ban till certain scenes and dialogues are removed by the director. But, prima facie, nothing seems to be objectionable nor has the movie got anything which violates the dignity of any section of the society. Doing a balancing act, dialogues – both pro and anti reservation - are there in the movie. While Saif Ali Khan is vocal on the need of reservation, Prateik Babbar is shown against reservations. They both fell out initially but later join hands for the cause of education.

Moreover, the movie has been made in the backdrop of the implementation of the recommendations of the Mandal Commission and subsequently the Supreme Court orders on the issue. People have obviously moved ahead now so much so that a major section of dalits in Punjab are proud of the word “Chamar”. Even popular music and literature glorifies the word in no uncertain terms. T-shirts proclaiming that “I am a Chamar” are worn by the youths here, signifying the new empowerment.

A senior official said that more than what the film contains, the Assembly elections in the state forced the state government to ban the film and try to appease the huge segment of the dalits in the state.

“Even though no demand was made for a ban and no dalit would feel offended by the movie, the Akali Dal thought that if they can get even a section of these votes in the forthcoming SGPC and then the Assembly elections, it would do no harm to its prospects”, a senior official said, on condition of anonymity.

The report of the screening committee gave an inkling of the thinking of the government to some extent.

“This (movie Arakshan) may prove to be a disturbing factor in the society especially in Punjab where more than 31 per cent of the 2.77 Crore population of Punjab belong to the weaker sections including the Scheduled Caste,” the Committee said is its report to the government, recommending continuation of the ban till the “objectionable” scenes and dialogues are removed. http://dailypioneer.com/360416/Aarakshan-a-no-show-as-audiences-give-it-a-miss.html

Cong tradition of dynastic politics continues

July 31, 2011 10:20:20 PM

Amitabh Shukla | Chandigarh

Dynastic politics and Congress go hand in hand. Following the footsteps of their national leaders, even the State leaders in Punjab are promoting their sons, wives, daughters and relatives in a big way.

None of the Congress leaders here are bothered about Rahul Gandhi’s call of ending dynastic politics and bring in democratisation in the party with the infusion of fresh blood and talent through internal elections. Interestingly, Punjab was one of the first States where democratic elections were held for posts in the Indian Youth Congress.

However, the very principle of Gandhi seems to have been defeated in the State where the democratisation process of the party began with a bang three years ago.

Ravneet Singh Bittu was elected as the president of the Punjab Youth Congress through this democratic process which has now vitiated and has several grey areas. His political lineage as a grandson of former Chief Minister Beant Singh played a major role in his “democratic election”. He was rewarded for being a torch bearer of Rahul Gandhi’s idea and became a member of the Lok Sabha from Anandpur Sahib.

Now almost the entire clan of Beant Singh, the Chief Minister, who played an important role in ending terrorism in the State, wants tickets for the forthcoming Assembly elections. This includes his daughter Gurkanwal Kaur, son Tej Prakash Singh and another grandson Gurkirat Singh. “Their claim to fame is simple. All are asking for tickets citing the sacrifice which the former Chief Minister made for the State,” said a party leader, on condition of anonymity.

Beant Singh’s family is not the only one in the State which is hankering after party tickets. CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal is following the footsteps of Congress leaders who want to perpetuate dynastic politics. While her brother Kuldip Singh Bhattal is an MLA, she also wants a ticket for her son-in-law Vikram Singh Bajwa.

Party leaders in the State point out that promotion of dynastic politics is natural due to the path shown by the “first Congress family” in the State - 69-year old PCC president Captain Amarinder Singh. His wife Parneet Kaur is an MP from Patiala and a Minister in the Central Government, he himself the CM in waiting and his son Raninder wants to avenge his defeat from Bathinda in 2009 Lok Sabha polls at the hands of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, another beneficiary of the dynastic politics, in the next general elections.

Taking cue from these leaders, several sitting MPs and senior MLAs are promoting their sons and daughters and want the party to give them tickets for the 2012 elections. They take their wards to political meetings, introduce them to the leaders in New Delhi and the State and express their wish clearly. Some of these leaders who are growing old have a succession plan ready.

“I want the party to give ticket to my son this time. I have served the party for a long time and this would be a suitable award,” a former Congress MLA, now 78 years old, said. He saw nothing wrong in son succeeding father saying “this is a Congress tradition”.

http://dailypioneer.com/357370/Cong-tradition-of-dynastic-politics-continues.html