The Missing Link in ''The Anna Hazare'' Story

Anna Hazare, the renowned socialist and a war veteran has finally blown the bugle. His antics at Jantar Mantar marks a new dawn in the democratic setup of our country. Anna went the populist Gandhian way and forced the government’s surrender. Of course, his success would not have been possible if thousands hadn’t rallied behind him. “An oldie fighting for the youth of today” is how I see this whole movement.  The bone of contention was the Jan Lokpal Bill, which envisages fighting corruption in the polity and bureaucracy by forming an Independent body called Lokpal in the centre, and its affiliates in the states called the Lokayukts. Although the government had its own version of the Lokpal bil, its form was not acceptable by Anna Hazare and its supporters.  

The bigger questions arising from the movement are

• Is it appropriate for the outside parliament groups to have a say in the framing of  laws?

•    Is it a good sign for Indian democracy to hold the government to ransom in order to satisfy certain    demands?

•    Should government give in to the demands of a particular group like this?

Now look at the first and second question. Although it is a part of good governance to ask for public comments on drafts of legislation it doesn’t bode well for the democracy if certain groups of public ask for and force the government to put their own bills and drafts before the parliament. If this was to happen in a democracy with a population as large as ours, it will only lead to more chaos and grievances than resolves. This is the reason why Anna’s way should be seen as an exception than a precedent. This is important to prevent vested groups from forcing governments to act like a puppet. Also, in order to ensure the sanctity of our democratic setup such movements should not be made a precedent. We should not forget that the legislators in the Parliament are our own representatives and any overriding of their power and functioning will mean overriding with the power of the electorate masses that elected them. Such a scenario would only lead to social unrest.

Now the third question, Should government give in to the demands of a particular group like this? Of course governments are chosen by the people and should function in sync with the masses but that doesn’t mean that it starts to function on populist demands. Government should use its own prudence and ensure that the spirit of democracy is not killed and at the same time it is not held to ransom by such groups.

-Sunny Gusain