Email sent on 10-Aug-2011
Dear Ms Bedi,
Anna got a raw deal from Government. To some extent he is also responsible for it. Let me share my views on future course of actions.
1. Anna's team represents miniscule part of larger civil society. He needs to expand breadth of his support from civil society. From each state he must try to garner as much support as possible. For example in Bengal he should explain Lokpal bill to Sourav Ganguly, PC Sorkar, Mamata Shankar, Usha Uthup, TV serial artists, footballers, eminent professors and many others. In each state he should conduct two workshops - one for local celebrities and other for common men comprising of students, teachers, government employee, businessmen, IT professionals. In the workshop he should explain views of civil society and government on contentious issues like inclusion of PM, judiciary, CBI and 1.4 crore of central government employees, Lokayukt.
2. Majority of middleclass people do not understand what are Lokpal and UNCAC? Publish a 15 page booklet explaining Lokpal in the context of UNCAC and why UNCAC mandates greater role of Civil Society to fight corruption which is the greatest menace of our time.
3. Publish a book on scams reported in various newspapers since independence. For each scam find out the current status - investigation is going on or charge sheet filed or case is closed without decision or case is resolved and guilty punished or case is pending in the court. This may take 1 or 2 years to publish. The book should contain a DVD/VCD containing clippings of TV programme and headlines of newspaper on each scam
4. Compile a DVD/VCD with clipping of debates happened in various TV channels between Anna's team and Government representative in last 2 months on Lokpal bill. Distribute 1 million such DVD/VCD throughout India including MPs and MLAs, most of them don't follow Lokpal debate.
5. Organize walk on regular basis in every city and town to make people aware of the need of strong Lokpal bill. Even TV anchors like Arnab Goswami are not fully aware of Lokpal. Last week he debated only on inclusion of PM. In my view critical success factor is independence of investigative agency and authority to prosecute PM.
6. There are 542 MPs, 4000+ MLAs, 25 lacs Panchayat/municipal constituents, 4000 IPS officers, 18 lacs state police, 4500 IAS officers, 40 lacs central govt employee including railways, 50 laks PSU employees, 1.2 crore state employees, 895 high court judges, 16,880 lower court judges (No idea of number of state civil servants). I believe if MP and MLAs are honest, everyone else down the line would be honest. So, in the first step let’s focus on corruption on high and mighty. Let's Lokpal deal with MP/MLA, IAS officers, state civil servants, IPS officers and lower court judges. Lokayukta can investigate politicians at Panchyat/ Municipal level. Rest of government employees may be covered under existing law.
7. Indefinite hunger strike will not help the cause in any way. This may lead to anarchy, vandalism, immolation because thousands of people will come to street for Anna's support. Anna will not have any control over those who will gather around his hunger strike site.
It is a long battle which cannot be won in few months. Anna has to make some concession
Anna got a raw deal from Government. To some extent he is also responsible for it. Let me share my views on future course of actions.
1. Anna's team represents miniscule part of larger civil society. He needs to expand breadth of his support from civil society. From each state he must try to garner as much support as possible. For example in Bengal he should explain Lokpal bill to Sourav Ganguly, PC Sorkar, Mamata Shankar, Usha Uthup, TV serial artists, footballers, eminent professors and many others. In each state he should conduct two workshops - one for local celebrities and other for common men comprising of students, teachers, government employee, businessmen, IT professionals. In the workshop he should explain views of civil society and government on contentious issues like inclusion of PM, judiciary, CBI and 1.4 crore of central government employees, Lokayukt.
2. Majority of middleclass people do not understand what are Lokpal and UNCAC? Publish a 15 page booklet explaining Lokpal in the context of UNCAC and why UNCAC mandates greater role of Civil Society to fight corruption which is the greatest menace of our time.
3. Publish a book on scams reported in various newspapers since independence. For each scam find out the current status - investigation is going on or charge sheet filed or case is closed without decision or case is resolved and guilty punished or case is pending in the court. This may take 1 or 2 years to publish. The book should contain a DVD/VCD containing clippings of TV programme and headlines of newspaper on each scam
4. Compile a DVD/VCD with clipping of debates happened in various TV channels between Anna's team and Government representative in last 2 months on Lokpal bill. Distribute 1 million such DVD/VCD throughout India including MPs and MLAs, most of them don't follow Lokpal debate.
5. Organize walk on regular basis in every city and town to make people aware of the need of strong Lokpal bill. Even TV anchors like Arnab Goswami are not fully aware of Lokpal. Last week he debated only on inclusion of PM. In my view critical success factor is independence of investigative agency and authority to prosecute PM.
6. There are 542 MPs, 4000+ MLAs, 25 lacs Panchayat/municipal constituents, 4000 IPS officers, 18 lacs state police, 4500 IAS officers, 40 lacs central govt employee including railways, 50 laks PSU employees, 1.2 crore state employees, 895 high court judges, 16,880 lower court judges (No idea of number of state civil servants). I believe if MP and MLAs are honest, everyone else down the line would be honest. So, in the first step let’s focus on corruption on high and mighty. Let's Lokpal deal with MP/MLA, IAS officers, state civil servants, IPS officers and lower court judges. Lokayukta can investigate politicians at Panchyat/ Municipal level. Rest of government employees may be covered under existing law.
7. Indefinite hunger strike will not help the cause in any way. This may lead to anarchy, vandalism, immolation because thousands of people will come to street for Anna's support. Anna will not have any control over those who will gather around his hunger strike site.
8. I do not believe in referendum - if Mamata Banerjee voices against Lokpal, majority will oppose Lokpal in Bengal. If one asks a rickshaw puller or a university student whether prime minister should be under Lokpal, their answer bears no relevance unless they actually understood pros and cons of inclusion. We have to create pressure through civil society and mass awareness. Hit the politicians where it hurt them most. Politicians will not act unless they realize that they might lose their vote bank for not making strong Lokpal. I think media is doing a good job in conducting opinion poll on Lokpal.
It is a long battle which cannot be won in few months. Anna has to make some concession
No comments:
Post a Comment