Angels, No More

Anna Hazare’s Jantar Mantar and Ramlila ground satyagrah protests for a strong Lokpal resembled the struggle for Indian Independence. The nation was recharged with a new fervour and the people’s response was unprecedented in recent years after the JP movement in 1975 Bright young men and women were in the forefront of the Anna Hazare initiative. Many sacrificed their jobs to work full-time for a great cause of creating a corruption-free India. The corridors of power were shaken and the Indian Parliament passed a “ Sense of the House Resolution” to enable Anna Hazare to give up his fast. That was the finest moment of the Anna Hazare movement. But the euphoria was short-lived  Anna Hazare’s rustic prescriptions for various issues, and the involvement of  Team Anna in electoral politics dampened the spirit of a large number of supporters of the anti-corruption crusade.

The tirade against  MPs, Union ministers and even the Prime Minister by members of  Team Anna give the impression that they are partisan and their intent is not apolitical. Most of the  Political parties are vocal in their support for a strong Lokpal. But their interpretation of “strong” is highly elastic. It is doubtful whether India will ever have an effective anti-graft law and a nationally acceptable Lokpal institution with an independent investigation mechanism.

Black money , Mind-boggling scams and scandals, paralysis in decision-making, absence of viable policy initiatives, insensitivity  to people’s needs, and decline in economic growth are eroding the confidence of the people. Even the highest  political authorities appear weak and incapable of inspiring the nation. The Planning Commission  practices the opposite of what is preaches. When millions have no toilets, spending 35 lakh rupees for two toilets is a criminal splurge from the Public exchequer . The austerity measures in government spending prescribed by the Finance Ministry are mere tokenism. Indian judiciary has been the only beacon of hope and justice. But the allegations of corruption against some judges and the recent “cash for bail” scam involving a CBI judge are shaking the nation’s confidence. There is a sense of hopelessness among the people.

There are no more angels in our midst.