This week marked the last consultation meetings between the Anna Hazare team and the Government to finalize the draft of the Lokpal Bill, that will be presented first to the Cabinet, and then to Parliament. The complete process has not been a consultative one. Instead it became a confrontational one, with both parties trading charges in public and the media. All of them appeared for interviews and debates across channels. Interestingly they never appeared together.
Whilst this debate was in progress, all of urban India and probably a majority of the rest of India too had an opinion. Mostly skewed in favor of the Anna team. For a change a minority of the public and an even lesser number of the media or editors were in favor of the Governments point of view. I happen to be among the few. On the few occasions that I had occasion to discuss the same with colleagues or friends, I got the look of "He's lost it." Nobody seemed to understand how any rational person could have that opinion. I failed to convincingly explain my point of view to my colleagues. Hopefully, I'll have better luck with you.
The primary reason I no longer support Anna Hazare and his team is their absolute approach where they assume that what they say and want is the "Only Way" and the "Right Way" and what anybody else wants or another opinion is not acceptable. And will resort to a 2nd hunger strike. This is not "Democracy". They, in my opinion are violating the very principles they profess to want to preserve. In our democracy, the people vote their representatives and the representatives make the law.
If we don't agree with that system or belief, we then need to become those representatives and change the law. From within. By being part of the system. Not by holding the very system we profess we want to change to ransom. Think about it. What if every well meaning soul went on a hunger strike because they didn't like what they were getting.
However, as far as the rest is concerned, I completely agree with Anna Hazare and his team. Unfortunately, most people have an opinion but have no idea what its all about. They have neither read the Lokpal draft or the issues of differences between the Government and the Anna Hazare team.
Interesting Site / Documents you must check out:
Lokpal Bill Public Consultation
Govt’s Lokpal Bill Vs Jan Lokpal Bill: Comparative Chart
Summary of Lokpal Bill
Full text of the Draft Lokpal Bill
Whilst this debate was in progress, all of urban India and probably a majority of the rest of India too had an opinion. Mostly skewed in favor of the Anna team. For a change a minority of the public and an even lesser number of the media or editors were in favor of the Governments point of view. I happen to be among the few. On the few occasions that I had occasion to discuss the same with colleagues or friends, I got the look of "He's lost it." Nobody seemed to understand how any rational person could have that opinion. I failed to convincingly explain my point of view to my colleagues. Hopefully, I'll have better luck with you.
The primary reason I no longer support Anna Hazare and his team is their absolute approach where they assume that what they say and want is the "Only Way" and the "Right Way" and what anybody else wants or another opinion is not acceptable. And will resort to a 2nd hunger strike. This is not "Democracy". They, in my opinion are violating the very principles they profess to want to preserve. In our democracy, the people vote their representatives and the representatives make the law.
However, as far as the rest is concerned, I completely agree with Anna Hazare and his team. Unfortunately, most people have an opinion but have no idea what its all about. They have neither read the Lokpal draft or the issues of differences between the Government and the Anna Hazare team.
Interesting Site / Documents you must check out:
Lokpal Bill Public Consultation
Govt’s Lokpal Bill Vs Jan Lokpal Bill: Comparative Chart
Summary of Lokpal Bill
Full text of the Draft Lokpal Bill
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