Anna Hazare's Movement Against Corruption

This second phase of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is getting tough. Old issues started opening up soon after the beginning of the second phase. The BJP obstructed the winter session of Parliament. Budget session could continue because MP's had to draw their salaries. The cacophony of corruption to some extent got subdued by Manmohan Singh's cricket diplomacy. But since 5 April, social activist Anna Hazare set on fast-unto-death at the Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, crusading against corruption. Veteran activist Anna Hazare ended his 97-hour hunger strike on 9 April morning after the gazette notification constituting a joint committee for drafting the Lokpal Bill, printed at 0200, was handed over to him. Belonging to a small village of Maharashtra, Hazare has warned the union government to amend the draft bill relating to corruption.

Provision in Lokpal Bil

The draft bill says that the Lokpal (bill to prevent corruption) cannot function independently and cannot initiate probe at his own. He can dispose of cases referred to him by the Lok Sabha (Lower house of Parliament) and the Rajya Sabha (Upper house of Parliament) leaders pertaining to corruption and cannot impact on others.

It is also an irony that the recommendation of the Lokpal may not necessarily be accepted. Lokpal does not have powers to lodge First Information Report (FIR) for initiating investigation against the accused. Simply, the Lokpal can initiate investigation against MP's, ministers and even the prime minister but not against government officials. Whereas, the fact is that corruption moves on with active connivance of officials and politicians.

Another defect of the draft bill is that the prime minister's actions pertaining to defense, internal security, and foreign policies will be outside the ambit of Lokpal. History is evident that most scams take place in defense deals. It is amazing that the blackout has been done at a place where transparency is most required.

According to the Lokpal Bill, its members will come from retired judges and persons approved by selection panels. It gives room for suspicion that the government will fill up the office of Lokpal with people of its choice. On contrary, Hazare demands representation of people from the civil society to detect and address each aspect of corruption. The government denies any such instance where people outside Parliament have been involved in legislative work.

Demand of Situation

Since the country's independence, many big scams have taken place, but insignificant people were caught and the big fish went scot-free. For this, the government has lost the confidence of people in it. That is why in a split of seconds, Hazare's movement is being supported by the common men, intellectuals, industrialists, and other prominent personalities, even film stars.

In the past, no such movement was seen where people rose above the level of sections and groups.Corruption has become a trend in a country and common citizens are a tool for ransom in the hands of politicians. The country got a Messiah in the form of Hazare. The government should wake up and respond to the call of revolution.