Give Lokpal teeth, protect institutions-8/4/11

Give Lokpal teeth, protect institutions-8/4/11

(SHOULD THEY GET 'AUTONOMY',OR BE A AUTONOMUS BODY AND BE ONE MORE PILLAR???...WELL THAT WILL MAKE THEM MORE EFFECTIVE LAWFULLY!!CORRUPTION IS REACHED TO THE HEIGHT,ITS HIGH TIME A NATIONAL DEBATE HAS STARTED.ITS A NEED OF TIME!!!CORRUPTION DO INCLUDES FROM 50RS BRIBE TILL BIG SCAM,BLACK MONEY IN SWISS BANKS,IN KIND,PROPERTIES,IN BEHAVIOUR,ITS DIFFERENT ASPECTS AND PROCESS,NEXUS,PROTECTION OF WHISTLEBLOWERS...WHOLE PROCESS AND ABOUT INVOLVED PEOPLE,AWARENESS ABOUT IT,LOOPWHOLES AND REMEDIES..AS ITS IN SYSTEM AND MINDSET!!!BUT THEN MAKING OF LAW NEED MORE THEN EMOTIONS!!....VIBHA)

In some ways, the fast led by eminent social activist Anna Hazare — to liberate our state systems from corruption — is reminiscent of the ambience of the protest agitations of the 1970s of which the centrepiece was a towering Gandhian, Jayaprakash Narayan. These extraordinary individuals have moved vast numbers of our people. The government would be making a serious mistake if it permitted self-serving elements within it to seek to belittle Mr Hazare’s campaign, which is catching on like wildfire all across the nation, and especially among the articulate middle classes who suffer on account of corruption at every step of their everyday lives. From the analytical point of view, clear distinctions need to be made between JP and Mr Hazare. The former was a stalwart politician at base (although he shunned government power), unlike the latter, whose campaigns are dismissive of politicians of all stripes. However, the commonality they share is what’s important: their charismatic ability to draw vast numbers to their cause. The reason is the despair engendered by the way our government functions — both at the Centre and in the states. This has lowered the morale and self-esteem of the ordinary Indian. Unfortunately, this is no less true now when we have at the helm a Prime Minister whose personal reputation for probity remains beyond reproach in spite of the corruption scandals that have erupted in the recent past. The government will, therefore, do well to pay heed to the essence of the demand that Mr Hazare’s fast has highlighted, and not be swayed by technicalities. The demand for a viable Lokpal brooks no delay. The manner in which all governments have dealt with the idea of such an institution since it was thrown up by the first Administrative Reforms Commission in the 1960s hardly inspires confidence. In the end, all governments have conspired against the creation of an institution that will have oversight powers — with a view to eliminating corruption — over senior levels of the state machinery, including the political executive at all levels, not forgetting the office of Prime Minister. It is time the UPA-2 government broke from the past, and made a sincere effort — in collaboration with those outside the government (among them those who are animating Mr Hazare’s campaign today) — to deliver on an anti-corruption mechanism that can effectively serve the nation. If the proposed Lokpal Bill conceived by the government is advisory in nature and is said to lack teeth, the reported draft proposals emanating from the ranks of “civil society” seem woolly-headed. They also overlook — or worse, undercut — the notion of accountability inherent in the institution of Parliament and of the government constituted by duly-elected members of legislatures. The so-called civil society rallying to Mr Hazare’s call arrogates too much virtue to itself and dismisses the institutional prerogatives that accrue to elected representatives of the people. This is tantamount to being dismissive of our democratic structure and its basic institutions. It is all too easily forgotten that political parties too are an inherent part of civil society, and without them can be no modern democracy. It is, however, important to reform our parties through appropriate legislation, clean up the election system, and keep an eye on governments constituted by elected legislators.