Aam Aadmi Party:The shaker and Mover?

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The results of Delhi Legislative Assembly elections held on December 4, 2013 are out. A total of 1.19 crore voters casted their ballots to decide the future of 810 candidates, 224 out of them being independent candidates. Congress party and BJP + SAD combine contested all the 70 seats, whereas the new entrant Aaam Aadmi Party, and BSP contested 69 seats each. The results were declared on December 8, with BJP alliance getting 32 seats, Aam Aadmi Party 28, Congress 8 and others claiming 2. The Sheila Dixit-led Congress party was rooted out, with its seats going down from 43 to 8. In terms of vote share, BJP received 34 % votes, AAP 30 % and Congress 25 %. By the time of submission of the article, the verdict is still not out as to who is going to form the government. BJP has emerged the single largest party, but is woefully farther from the magic number of 36 to be able to form the government.

AAP with a tally of 28 legislators has already declared that it would sit in the opposition and would neither seek support nor extend to any other party. With the entry of Aam Aadmi Party, the contest had become triangular. The media had predicted that the outcome would be a hung assembly, with BJP emerging as the single largest party. Whereas the prediction turned out to be largely true, what many experts did not realize the anger of the voters against the ruling party, decimating it to mere single digit number (8).

Whatever be the outcome of the results in terms of government formation, Delhi assembly elections are a watershed in the history of Indian politics. The emergence of Aam Aadmi Party has demonstrated a few defining characteristics in Indian politics.

Aam Aadmi Party has amply proved that elections can be fought with white money donated by public. It also has exemplified that if there is a will, money influence can be decreased in politics. The political pundits and cynics would never have thought that a newbie would be able to generate required money purely through public donations in a transparent manner. The party fought the whole elections with 20 Crores in coffers which included election expenses and organizational expenses.

AAP also set a new paradigm in Indian politics by deciding to implement what we call the phenomenon of primaries or caucuses as practiced in several parts of the world. The candidature of the aspirants for the assembly elections were decided at the primary level (constituency level), rather than the high ups in the party as is the tradition of several major parties in India.

AAP also stirred the Indian politics by rejecting the caste and community equation in fielding the candidates. In Delhi elections, caste and religion were not the primary basis of selecting a candidate and the election results have shown that it went well with the electorate.

These elections have demonstrated another interesting phenomenon of what we call “Citizen Politics”. Aam Aaadmi deciding to take a plunge in politics, aam aadmi deciding to contest elections and successfully winning several seats gave a jolt to the usual stereotypes that politics was a domain of the wealthy and the privileged few. Also, the methods adopted by AAP like door to door campaigning, engaging people in nukkad meetings, music walks, metro train campaigns not only gave them time to connect to the electorate, they also proved to be very economical models of election campaigning. In fact, topi (cap) and jhadoo (broom) were good eye catchers for the public.

The spirit of volunteerism in politics is another fascinating aspect that AAP was able to successfully demonstrate and sustain. The overwhelming response of people coming from out of Delhi and India to volunteer their time and skills took many by surprise. Whereas other parties have established a culture of paid workers, AAP was able to mobilize public participation for the political action.

With the emergence of what Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party terms as “Clean Politics”, the other political parties would be forced to adopt the agenda! AAP has come in clear support of measures like political parties coming under RTI scanner, a stronger Lokpal Bill, electoral reforms like Right to Reject and Right to Recall. Thus, other political parties have been forced to re-look at their stands. And as we know, sometimes the political parties take up the agenda of the challenger to keep the latter at bay. It remains to be seen how much AAP would be able to shake up the existing political establishment, but undoubtedly the era of new politics demanding more accountability and transparency has arrived!

Voter Assistance Booth is a welcome Step!

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In Delhi Assembly elections held on December 4, 2013, Election Commission (EC) introduced a new election practice this time:

1. Election Commission itself deployed its staff and distributed “Authenticated Photo Voters SLIP” to households (2-3 days before polling day). Photo Voter Slip is a small piece of paper that has voter’s name, photo, voter ID card number, booth number (where she is supposed to go and vote) and serial number.

2. A voter is supposed to take along with her Voter ID card and “Authenticated Photo Voter Slip” when she goes to vote. In case, she does not have a Photo voter slip or forgets to carry it, she can obtain one at Voter Assistance Booth (VAB), specially created this time by election commission outside the polling booth where BLO (Booth Level Officer) deployed by EC would assist the voter and issue a new Photo voter slip.

I welcome these 2 new measures initiated by Election Commission. This means:

– The practices by political parties of distributing their own Voter Slips becomes less meaningful now. I do not mind if the parties keep doing it. let them do it, but EC has already served the purpose!

– More importantly, the practice of setting up a Voter Assistance Booth (VAB) is a great welcome. Taking this forward, in my opinion, Election Commission should now discourage (or even ban) the political parties to set up booth tables by political parties outside the Booth. EC has already served the purpose of helping voters find their information through VAB. The tables set up by parties often become a ploy for enticing voters (though discreetly), show off of egos and emotions.

If this measure is taken, then political parties would have to appoint Booth Agents only (those who sit inside the polling Booth acting as an observer for the party).

Along with this, I shall add (though I intend to discuss it in details in another post):

1. Allow the voter to vote at any booth in the constituency. For example: A voter can go and vote at any of the 156 booths of Greater Kailash Assembly area. Current practice is that a voter is allowed to vote at a designated polling booth (say number 10).

2. Polling (voting) should be allowed for a few days (say, a week) rather than just for a day. For example: Polling Day is Nov 7. The voters should have a choice to vote from Nov 1 to 6 at a few designated polling stations, and then on Polling Day (Nov 7), the whole apparatus should be on display (as it happens under current schema).

 

 

 

Strenghthening Loktantra via “Voty” festival

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This election season has witnessed a high voter turnout. Assembly elections are being conducted in the states of Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Delhi in the month of November and December, 2013.  Voting is over in all the states except Delhi where voting will take place tomorrow,i.e., December 4.

One characteristic that has been common to all the states this season has been the pattern of high voting percentage. People of Bastar area of Chattisgarh- under the grip of Maoists- set the ball rolling in this direction. For just 18 assembly seats, Election Commission reserved one full day to facilitate voting under tight security and the voters of Bastar region did not disappoint! They came out in full swing to exercise their voting right, contributing to 67 percentage of the total voting. Rest of the Chattisgarh and then Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan followed the suit and witnessed above 70 % voting.

While many factors can be accounted for enhanced voting, credit must also be given to Election Commission for playing role in creating awareness programs. One of the programs called SVEEP (Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation) was commissioned in all the states during recent times.

Delhi will be going for polls tomorrow (December 4, 2013). I have been camping in Delhi for last 5 months. It is sickening to hear the rants of some political parties making false promises and boasting their past achievements. But as soon as the election campaigning ended yesterday evening (48 hours from the scheduled end of polling), it was refreshing to see voter awareness ads taking over! (after all, FM radios and TV channels and news papers have space now!). Today while I was traveling via Metro train, it was a pleasure to hear via public announcement system at Metro stations, the appeal by Election Commission to people to exercise their voting right! A catchy advt by ADR at one metro station was quite interesting: Accept no money, no liquor, and do cast your vote!

After all, election season is a like a festival for voters and why not spare some time to create more awareness among voters about the importance of voting power! A vote fetches you no money (under ideal conditions), but it is a weapon that you can use to send an elected representative into exile!

 

Salute to Volunteers of Aam Aadmi Party!

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The election campaigning for Delhi Assembly elections ended a few hours back today (Dec 2,2013). As per model code of conduct, the campaigning came to a halt at 5 PM today,ie, 48 hours before the end of polling.

I salute to hundreds of thousands of  volunteers who have  put in their time for varying length for the Aam Aadmi Party since inception. In last 1 year, Delhi has been witness to these self-effacing, committed party members or non-members from the city and all across India and abroad. Males and females, young and old, students and professionals, highly educated to ones with lesser academic certifications: Indians of all hue and color have marched to Delhi to give time to the party on their own with just one Mission: To help bring clean politics to Delhi (and hence, country).  I have worked at the Volunteer Engagement Cell of the party for a considerable time and therefore am witness to a wide spectrum of talent offering its services just because they sensed that yes, this is an opportunity to bring a  change in the political culture of India!

It is unprecedented in Indian political movement that an entire gamut of skills is filled in largely by volunteer force only. What initially started with India Against Corruption (IAC) volunteers joining the party (AAP), soon people of different ideologies and political affiliations started joining the work-force. Be it working on the ground or social media enthusiasts propagating the cause or phone calling to email responses to IT operations-  all is being handled by volunteers. The movement in last one year has shown some remarkable characteristics of a true peoples’ movement. One peculiar feature that I would like to highlight is the self-initiative-  Volunteers felt the need to do something and they initiated it. That is why, AAP is witness to so many blogs, Facebook groups, Twitter trends, WhatsApp groups, Google groups and websites created by patriots to strengthen the movement. And characteristically, volunteers across the globe did it. It was not merely restricted to a few regions. Enthusiastic volunteers have on their own organized Google hangouts, conferences and seminars to delve upon this emerging movement whose sole agenda is to change the way politics is done in India.

The journey is not over yet. But with the campaigning ending today, it is an occasion to remember the one year journey that volunteers of AAP have made it unforgettable with their love, affinity, hard work and zeal for the nation. Who says politics is something to be despised? Ask these freedom fighters who  jumped in with the motto: We have come NOT to do politics, but to CHANGE it!

 

 

Culture of Politics needs to change in India

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Having returned to Chicago  after spending 6 weeks in Delhi, yesterday I called a young friend of mine who lives in Delhi. I was narrating my experiences of volunteering for Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi that I did in last several weeks. Even though he works and stays in Delhi, he asked me when are the elections in Delhi. I explained that the Delhi assembly elections are due in next 90 days, hardly 3 months away.

This young man is professionally educated, a socially spirited guy, wants to make a career in non-profit sector and in general well-informed. But he also represents the one catch that is typical of Indian youth: total indifference to political action! I was surprised that he does not know that Delhi- the Capital of India- is facing state assembly elections in next 3 months and that the current Chief Minister Sheila Dixit has already started doling out freebies at the expense of state exchequer to cling to power. He does not know that last 15 years have witnessed the governance of Congress Party in Delhi and the living conditions in Delhi have gone from bad to worse. A few years back, he decided to come to Delhi from a small town because he rightly felt that Delhi would provide better opportunities, but clearly never tried to see why Delhi as a city was so sick. Is not the poor governance responsible for the poor health of Delhi?

This dichotomy is a bit perplexing!

The youth today knows and understands the poor infra structure that the country has: poor roads, poor public utility services (educational institutes, hospitals, and so on).

The youth today knows and understands that there is a massive corruption and un-accountability in the government.

The youth today knows and understands that the politicians are not up to par. They are in general corrupt, incompetent and self-centered.

The youth today knows and understands that despite India having a massive pool of talent and wealth, as a country we are poor and not developing at the expected pace.

The youth today knows and understands that many other parts of world provide better quality of life to their citizens.

Yet, the callousness of the youth to politics is appalling. Their hesitation to be politically conscious is a matter of concern. The youth of today knows the ills, knows the diagnosis, yet is unwilling to align for a political engagement to seek solutions.

He/she thinks that the first job is to make a professional career for himself or herself and somehow the ills of country will be taken care by some other guys! (s)he fulfills his societal role by volunteering for an NGO or at religious places, but somehow wishes that some other well-intentioned guys will go to politics and give the citizens a better life. The Indian youth is very find of saying: “I hate politics”!

The youth understands and demands a better India, but shys away from the arena of political engagement and civic engagement. I always feel that unless we align with political action, the  less brilliant minds will continue to occupy the political arena and we shall continue to get sub-standard quality of life in India.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My speech at Chicago convention of AAP

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Aam Aadmi Party -USA held its first national convention in Chicago on May 18,2013. Here are excerpts of my speech.

My Fellow Countrymen!

I shall start with my personal experience as to how I got involved with Aam Aadmi Party and that in fact may be representative of aspirations of many of people present here.

Next, I shall read the resolution that we propose to pass today at this gathering.

And then I shall introduce our dedicated team of workers and volunteers.

Last week, distributing flyers for this event at Devon (Indian market), one gentle man asked me how much money Arvind Kejriwal  has in Swiss banks. Since I was not ready for this question, I  asked, excuse me! He emphatically repeated the question with a disdain on his face. I said: “zilch”. He walked away without taking the flier from me.

This week, I was sitting in the physician  lounge of the hospital where I work and discussing this upcoming event with one of my colleagues. He said: “All are crooks. All are corrupt. Is desh ka kuch nahi ho sakta.” Now let me tell you, this physician friend of mine is a well –informed guy about India and Indian politics. He speaks 4 languages effortlessly.

This skepticism and cynicism  that ‘nothing can change’ is a lethal proposition. As someone has rightly said: “The biggest problem in this world is- The Intelligent People Are Full Of Doubts, While The Stupid Ones Are Full Of Confidence!!!”

Do we think the same way about our kids or say our family members.  As we know very well, our kids have varying abilities, skills and aptitudes. All do not have even same IQ. But we work with them steadily over years to help them find their meaningful place in life. Why we do so? Because we are INVESTED in them. Same applies to our nation also.

I am sure everyone of us has contributed back to the country in one way or the another and still continues to do so. In my observation, one of the most easy and important way for NRI is do some charity work back home. This shows that our heart lies in right place! Somehow we do not relate to this fact that why we are here in USA? We come to a country like USA and start following the things that are in place right from Day 1. We stop at a red light even at the midnight when there is not even a single vehicle on the inter-section. Chicago – the famous Windy city- has more inclement and harsher weather than majority of Indian cities. This country has full share of natural calamities happening all around the year in form of heavy snow falls, tornadoes, forest fires, etc. Yet we come and like to live here, even paying up to 40 % taxes on our hard earned income. All because there seems to be System in place. And about India, we are fond of saying: “Koi system nahi hai! Koi system nahi hai!”

Have you seen Japanese coming and settling here? Or French or Germans for that matter? Japan has probably equal population density as of India. So do not blame that India is just too crowded!

Thus one malaise that I see is the apathy to politics. However, remember this saying by Pericles:  “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you. ”

And then, as another philosopher said:

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”

 Now, Aam Aadmi party has given us that hope! It has taken out the insecurity of ‘sab crooks hai’  and has given us an opportunity to PARTICIPATE in politics. Jai ho!!

Your India Tomorrow: An Open Letter to Young Indians by Kishore Asthana

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This article penned down by Mr. Kishore Asthana is being reproduced as a Guest Article. Mr Asthana is a socio-political activist based out of Gurgaon. He can be reached via his email asthana1 [at] yahoo.com
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Hi,
 
You do not know me. However, that does not matter. I was born a couple of years before our independence and, over the last six decades I have seen India becoming less tolerant, more cynical, more corrupt and less ably run. We have now reached a level where you are staring in the face of a catastrophe. If you do not do anything about this, your next generation will suffer through this. All the omens are already there.
I will perhaps not be there to see your grandchildren but my children and grandchildren will be there and your children, too. They will be living in the India they inherit from you.This is why this message is important for you.
It is for you to take action at this point or all is lost. At a similar point in history, what Brutus tells Cassius in Julius Caesar is equally relevant for you:
 
“There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
 Omitted, all the voyage of their life
’s bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
 or lose our ventures.”
Brutus says this because “the enemy increaseth every day.” As it did for Brutus and Cassius, the enemy increases for you, too and, unchecked, it will overwhelm you and your children.
Let us imagine what kind of India we could have had if the enemy had not been so dominant. You would have a country where:
·    You open the tap at any time of the day and night anywhere in India and you get pure drinking water. No need for water purifiers.
·    You switch on the power at any time and the light goes on. No inverters or generators. Industries can run uninterrupted by power cuts.
·    You want to get your child admitted to school and you do not have to pay a fortune or stand in long lines. Perhaps you can do it online.
·    There is a choice of good public school, where the standard of education is second to none.
·    It you want to go from town A to town B, you could drive on a clean, broad highway without having to stop for paying tolls.
·    You want to go for an evening walk and you can do so without the danger of stepping into garbage, getting run over by a car, twisting your ankle in a pothole or getting mugged. There are cycle tracks and pedestrian walkways. Even ramps for the handicapped.
·    You can go out of town without worrying about your house being burgled.
·    The Police Station is a welcoming place instead of a place to be feared.
·    A case in the court does not take years and years and the guilty are punished promptly and fairly.
·    A country where the rule of law prevails and the law does not get manipulated by those in power. When the ministers opine, “the law will take its own course” as they do in every case, the law is allowed to take its own course with speed and fairness. Where Commissions of enquiry are really effective and quick instead of becoming interminable sinecures for retired judges and others.
.  A country where your voice is heard not only pretend-heard during election time and forgotten thereafter.
·    Where none of those who make laws for you and me are themselves criminals.
Most of these and many other such things are taken for granted by the residents of many other countries. Why can we not enjoy them here?
However improbable this happening in India may occur at first glance, it is possible for us to have these too – and fairly easily. The reason I say this is because resources are not the constraint, our will and ability to ensure their honest usage is.
Yes, we have more than enough resources. However, most of these do not go into the implementation of schemes. They are stolen by the corrupt. We have become a country that attracts comments from leaders abroad mentioning that bribery is a natural thing in India and that no deals are possible without paying bribes. The truth is borne out by our scams.
If you care to go through the depressing details of all the scams in India where massive amounts of money has been fraudulently taken away, do visit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_scandals_in_India#2000s
This site lists all major scams. You will be surprised at the sheer number. However, for a young person, it is very necessary to learn what kind of a country we are living in.
Just the following five scandals will illustrate what I mean:
Scandal
Year reported
Scope
Location
Key players
2012 Indian coal mining controversy
2012
185,591.34 crore (US$33.78 billion)
India
Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the coal ministry, many electricity boards and private companies
Karnataka Wakf Board Land Scam
2012
200,000 crore (US$36.4 billion)
Karnataka
Uttar Pradesh NRHM scam
2012
10,000 crore (US$1.82 billion)
Uttar Pradesh
Mayawati
2G spectrum scam
2010
176,000 crore (US$32.03 billion)
national
Nira Radia, A. Raja, M. K. Kanimozhi, many telecommunications companies
Uttar Pradesh food grain scam
2003
35,000 crore (US$6.37 billion)
Uttar Pradesh
Kapil Sibal, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati
The total scope for just these five scams is nearly US $ 110 billion. Rs, 6,06,591 crores – imagine, Rs. 6,06,59,100,00,000. To put this figure in perspective, our Planning Commission had mandated that a villager earning above around Rs. 8,250 per annum will not be considered above the poverty level.
These are only 5 scams. This list does not contain major scams such as the recent Helicopter Scam (360 crore bribes paid), the Tatra Truck Scam involving 7,000 army trucks, the Antrix Devas deal, the Rs. 8,000 crore Satyam scam,  the massive CWG scam etc. Details of 246 scams are mentioned on this site.
One other thing is noteworthy about this list of scams. The scams listed per year are and show that the number of scams has been rising geometrically over the last three years:
2012: 41 scams
2011: 23 scams
2010:   9 scams
2009:   9 scams
2008:   6 scams
2007:   none
2006:   2 Scams
Not only the number of scams has increased, the quantum has reached astronomical figures. Clearly the enemy is becoming more and more fearless. And, why should they not become fearless? There is no risk of punishment. No one is held accountable. Almost all the main players involved in these scams are sitting pretty. They are even ministers and chief ministers. They control the investigative arms of the government and, even when the matter reaches our judiciary, cases drag on for decades, till these accused die of natural causes. So, why should the unscrupulous fear the law?
Much of our black money is stashed in property deals, gold and other assets in India itself. However, much of it is sent abroad. According to a Swiss Banking Association Report (2006), “India has more black money than the rest of the world combined.” In 2006, Indians had stashed almost $1,456 billion in black money in Swiss banks. Then there are banks in Mauritius, Channel Islands, the Far East and other tax havens. Imagine, just the Swiss bank balances spirited out of India till 2006 would have enabled $ 100,000 – Rs. 50 lakhs – to be spent on every individual Indian. And this is just till 2006. Would it not then be possible for us to fulfil our wish list for our country?
A report by Global Financial Integrity mentions that the Indian economy lost $123 billion in “black money” between 2001 and 2010. This is money that was illegally earned, transferred or used and stashed abroad.
Do you know how much India spends in a year in social services including healthcare and education? Just $ 3.6 billion. If we could have saved just 3% of the black money, we could have doubled our expenditure on health, education and welfare.
So this, my young fellow Indians, is the crux of the matter. You have a choice to do something about this or just let the enemy keep getting stronger. You are, in the true sense, the Bharat Bhagya Vidhata – the arbiter of India’s destiny.
What can you do to change things and to bring prosperity to India? You have your opportunity to bring about change now. The elections in various state assemblies are around the corner. The Parliamentary elections are scheduled in 2014. What you can do is this:
·      Register as a voter. Help get everyone in your family and friends get a Voter ID.
·      Scrutinise the background of all candidates. The information is available in their affidavits filed with the election commission and is a matter of public record, easily accessed on the EC’s website. Do not vote for anyone with a criminal record.
·      See the promises of political parties for what they are – mere promises. Compare them to the promises made before the previous elections – how many of these have been kept? Any political party which does not keep its poll promises lacks integrity.
·      See if the candidate or the party in question is trying to woo members of a certain religion or community by promising or giving special privileges. Such parties are divisive and cynical and best avoided.
·      Confirm your polling booth and the page number on which your name figures in the Voter’s list, before the Polling Day.
·      On Polling day, go out to vote. Also insist that all your friends and family go out and vote. Participation in our democratic process is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity. The black ink mark on your finger, certifying that you have voted, is one black mark you can be justifiably proud of. By not voting, you are playing in the hands of the cynical and corrupt.
·      Vote for those candidates who are sincere and honest and have a track record of working for the constituency and the people of India even when they are not in power.
·      Spread the word amongst other young people. Make them aware of the critical stage India is in. The tide in the affairs of Indians must not be allowed to go waste.
Why should you listen to me, especially since I am no guru?
The word guru comes from gu (darkness) and ru (light). A guru is one who leads you from darkness to light. I cannot lead you from darkness to light, from corruption to honesty, from sloth to activity, from childishness to maturity, from folly to wisdom. Only you can do that.
Yes, I am not a guru, but I am still relevant, for I am a mirror that shows the kind of image we project in the world today. If you do not like what you see, you can stop looking or you can do something about it.
I hope you will choose to act, for if you don’t. Your children will live in a worse India for what they see in the mirror, and what the world sees in it will become murkier and murkier. The choice, as usual, is yours.

Italy rubs India under Italian Ruler in India

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Italian Marines allegedly kill  two Indian fishermen. Italy asserts that they were killed in international water, India says they were killed in Indian jurisdiction. The 2 Italian marines are charged by Indian authorities and put in jail.

The case goes to Supreme Court (SC). The 2 Italian marines ( Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone)  plead that they be allowed to go to Italy for Christmas vacation (Dec 2012). Strangely, SC allows. They dutifully return to India.

In Feb 2013, the jailed marines request again to go to Italy to cast their vote in elections in Italy! Wow, what a request! The SC allows them again. Now, they DO NOT return.

What a slap on the face! India seethes with anger.

But why did the SC act upon in such a dim wit manner?

I have 2 basic questions:

What is the necessity of sending the 2 convicts on parole for casting their vote? Even if the Ambassador of Italy gave a sworn affidavit, what is the need. Does the whole democracy of Italy survive of the votes of these 2 Italian men?

Why Govt of India did not oppose the parole?

Why should not Indian public assume that Supreme Court was playing it softly? On whose directions?

 

Anna: Please do not miss a chance

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Well known social and political crusader Mr. Anna Hazare has re-launched his campaign against corruption today on January 30, 2013. The campaign named Gantantra Abhiyaan has been launched form the famous Gandhi  maidan in Patna. Bihar is the birrthplace of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan.
AnnaAs the readers might re-collect, Anna Hazare had started the campaign under the title “India Aganst Corruption” (IAC) with Arvind Kejriwal in 2010. The whole movement was focused on a one-point agenda: to secure the passage of Janlokpal Bill. The movement caught up to the fancy of the whole nation and singularly brought corruption into focus. It was no less than a revolution, it seemed as if each and every Indian was rallying behind Team Anna. But there was a miniscule class of Indians who was not impressed. Miniscule but powerful! Yes, I am referring to our Parliamentarians. These “brown sahebs” did everything to diffuse and dilute the situation. Thus, even today the Janlokpal Bill is waiting to see the light of the day in Parliament.

However, the IAC movement -frustrated by the unwilingness of the Parliamentarians to focus on the the reforms- got split, with Arvind Kejriwal esposing a direct political route. Even with the huge surge in the momentum of IAC movement, the whole phenomenon would be best labelled as fence-sitting! To grab the bull by horn, you have to get into the ring and that was what Kejriwal advocated: He and some of the core members walked away to form a political party now called Aam AAdmi Party.

Thus, Anna was left with IAC in September 2012. After a few weeks of debating the issues, Anna too relinquished the bannerof IAC (now IAC is a separate movement, headed by one gentleman Sarbajit Roy and his team) and decided to re-launch his agitation under his own NGO’s name.

Loksabha elections are hardly 14 months away (will take place sometime in April of 2014). Mr Anna Hazare might have experiences that such huge movements launched by civilc society organizations can serve only ONE purpose: they can create awareness and educate. But anti-corruption movements can not CHANGE the law (unless, we have a feature called INITIATIVE, where a bill can be initiated by the public and legislation has to take it up and pass it into a law, depending upon the provisons specified). Howver, Indian public does not have this privilege (by the way, Aam Aadmi Party supports this reform).

Thus, what the re-ignited movemnet of Shri Anna Hazare can do at the best:  Keep educating the public about enormous corruption that exists in our system. Nothing more! Mercifully, even an illitrate person understands that corruption is a deep-rooted virus in our system.

Whatever, Anna’s reservation might be about the direct politcial plunge. Here is a golden chance for Anna and for the nation. Since he started his movement from Patna, taking inspiration for LNJP, he should go for a direct political plunge. He should oversee the formation of a politcal front, of which AAP and like minded parties -whose key focus is on reforming the system- get together and defeat the suckers!

It will be a tactical move that has the potential to liberate India from fedudal political parties and usher a new era of politics. The new conglomerate can then go for reforms that would give our system   a new lease of life.

Afterall,  it is the poor policies that promotes corruption and inefficieny and malgovernacne.

Anna ji, the nation looks upto you for this transformational role! Please consider!

 

 

 

Controversy on Vishwaroopam movie

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The whole controversy on the movie Vishwaroopam by Kamal Hasaan was un-necessary. I am happy to hear that the Madras High Court has lifted the ban on the movie today.

VishwaroopamKamal Hasaan is a well respected actor and director in Indian film industry. The just released movie “Vishwaroopam” deals with Islamic terrorism. There have been several movies made in India on the similar theme, so what was the fuss about this? However, it seems without even watching the movie, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister Mrs J Jaylalitha decided to ban this. What was her concern: law and order situation or just pandering to some fringe voices? I will leave it to the readers to decide. Kamal Hassan called the ban “Cultural Terrorism” and I appreciate him taking a tough stand on this. He approached the court and finally court lifted the ban.

This is to be noted that the Film Censor Board had cleared this movie. That point should have factored heavily before Mrs Jaylalitha decided to go her way. But apparently, our politicians are obtuse in this manner.  As the ban was placed, it was good to see Leela Samson, head of the the Central Board for Film Certification coming to the defense of Hasaan. She rightly said: “It is absolutely unacceptable. We have certified hundreds and thousands of films…only with Vishwaroopam, you find it has not been done with due diligence? This is an infringement on freedom of expression.”

There was a major criticism on the ban via social media. Indians came out heavily at FB and Twitter to express their disgust on the ban by Tamil Nadu government. This is a good sign! As has been said: “Freedom is never free and liberty is never guaranteed.” Kudos to the judiciary for upholding the truth and Indian public that jeered the ban. I hope Mrs Jaylalitha will do some introspection too.