dailyO
Voices

Why Anna Hazare's plans to revive anti-graft movement will flop

Advertisement
Tejinder Singh Bedi
Tejinder Singh BediDec 15, 2017 | 14:55

Why Anna Hazare's plans to revive anti-graft movement will flop

It's strange that Anna Hazare too has joined the ranks of "nationalists" who launch or revive their "crusades" against serious issues such as corruption only on select days - Gandhi Jayanti, Independence Day, Republic Day etc.

Angry with the government for weakening the anti-corruption Lokpal Act and ignoring the plight of farmers, anti-corruption crusader Hazare has now announced a "satyagraha" that will start in 2018 on March 23, also observed as Martyrs' Day.

Advertisement

It is strange leaders assume that the common man is awakened only on such occasions. However, politicians do wake up to pursue serious causes on historically or symbolically important days only to slip back into coma the very next day.

Most of our self-styled godmen and spiritual gurus have all been maintaining a calculated silence on issues that once had become so dear to them after being espoused by Hazare.

ana690_121517021552.jpg

The anti-corruption crusader has been saying for some months now that he will launch another round of agitation in Delhi for the appointment of Lokpals, Lokayuktas and for farmers' rights as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "not serious about rooting out corruption".

For a man, who during the second term of the previous UPA government, particularly after 2011, was not willing to wait even for a day and claimed to be the staunchest supporter of a "strong Lokpal" - compared to all the "Jokepal" drafts of the past - to wake up suddenly almost after four later, looks out of the ordinary. Hazare's announcement is strange especially because he remained silent even as the central Act was pushed down the aisles of Parliament, except for one or two off-the-cuff comments. Even the country's apex court went on record reminding the government about the delay in the appointment of a Lokpal after the Act had been passed almost four years ago.

Advertisement

It will be hard for the people to again repose their faith in Hazare for affecting any meaningful change now.

There is also no reason for the present prime minister to buckle under any pressure with the kind of power consolidation he has already achieved for his government both at the Centre and across most states.

On the government's part, initiatives such as demonetisation, GST and focus on benami properties among a few others, are already being projected as strong anti-corruption measures. These form the likely reasons for making the appointment of a Lokpal a much lesser priority.

Sections of the media and social media platforms had been giving Hazare the benefit of doubt for his deliberate silence over his self-stalled crusade against corruption. However, they need to remember that for a "celebrity crusader" like him, it wouldn't have been very difficult to keep the movement alive, especially with a media hungry for sound bites and breaking news. Hazare is a celebrity who has given media houses enough news to generate good TRP ratings.

On the contrary, for some unfathomable reasons, Hazare deliberately let the heat die even though slightest periodic interventions from him would have actually strengthened the cause of the Lokpal.

Advertisement

He alone knows the reasons for his deafening silence and would do well to explain that to the nation before announcing a fresh schedule for his next round of agitation for the benefit of the common masses, which now include the farmers too.

Hazare, in fact, had a much stronger chance of making his crusade against corruption a success in the past three-and-a-half years.

Sadly, Anna has missed the bus and emotionally misled his followers. For that matter, it wouldn't be wrong to say that people like Arvind Kejriwal contributed more towards the changes envisioned than was thought could be brought about. The prime minister too has followed a clear agenda and despite some good and bad phases - all part of a challenge at that level - is still seen as a charismatic leader who will not need the crutches of the likes of Anna in the next elections.

It is unfortunate, but true, that the common man doesn't seem to be looking forward to "Main Anna hoon - part 2" to waste gross productive hours of work only to be abandoned by the crusader midway.

Last updated: December 15, 2017 | 14:55
IN THIS STORY
Please log in
I agree with DailyO's privacy policy