Folks, there is a growing feeling that the Jan Lokpal is like a magic potion that will finish corruption. This feeling is totally misplaced.
(1)Jan Lokpal is a aftermath of the complete failure of the current Anti Corruption Vigil institutions like CVC and CBI and CD-CBI to check corruption in beaurocracy.
(2) The failure is not attributed to the fact that people have failed it, but to the fact that the laws are clinically drafted in such a way that these bodies can't do a thing unless parlimentarians or beaureaucrats approve to carry out investigtions and indictions.So effectively these institutions are toothless.
(3) With almost no body of the govt capable of checking the activities of beaureaucrats, obviously the politicians will loot the country. Its like a crore ruppes lying on the street. Passers by will be afraid for a day or two to pick it up, but when 10 passer byes decided that we will lift it and share it among us, they quickly snatch it.
(4) I dont believe that the people who have come out in support of Jan Lokpal really know whats in it that will help us. Much of it is euphoria and herd mentality.What the bill demands is an organzation that will operate independant of the govt (like supreme court and election commission) and have powers to carry out investigations and trials on the entire top to bottom rung of the govt.
(5) Of course there will be corruption in Lokpal, but it will be exactly equivalent to the levels of corruption in Election Commission and Suprme Court, which is relatively low as compared to other govt depts.
(6) Once 'fear' sets in, before doing a wrong doing, corruption will start reducing automatically. Once corruption starts reducing, automatically the revenue that gets generated in 'black' will need to be channeled with 'white' means. So, the passport will automatically start costing 5k rather than 1k, which it costs now. similarly, traffic violations will no longer cost Rs 100 in white and 50 in black. The cost will simply be 1000k, which should be the real 'white' price anyway.
(7) Jan Lokpal has its problems as well. There are some demands which are draconian and un-democratic. for e.g. if a passport case doesnt get completed in its given stipulated time, it will be automatically assumed as a case for corruption. This is pretty ridiculous. How many of us have ever delivered a project on time? :)
The solution is to negotiate, negotiate and only negotiate. Both parties need to sit and come up with a strong lokpal. thats what i want, and thats what i believe will happen.
Hi Harshal,
ReplyDeleteI dint agree with the modus used to get the lokpal bill into parliament. But thats an old chapter.
But now comes the bit where the bill comes into effect. And hope it doesn't go all dud.
I have a question at this point, in a battle with the SHarad Pawar's and the Kalmadi's, Reddy's etc; Who do you want holding the anti-corruption flag. Who should be taking charge... Hazare ? or the ruling govt. Its political war, and Hazare needs to find or make a war hero to fight it out. Rahul Ganghi is a very promising card the UPA can throw in. And politically he has a decently good track record, if Sonia thinks so.
-Ben
When the law comes into effect, Anna won't have to take charge. The lokpal will take charge. Since lokpal will be an independant authority, ruling party doesnt matter. Thats the beauty of lokpal.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in congress. It's a feudal party. Non-gandhi's cannot lead it. Its a dynasty. You and I don't want a dynasty to rule us. We need professional people to take charge.