Hazare movement: Democracy truly at work

Couch it as you like.  But it was simply a confrontation of the people against a political class that has increasingly alienated itself from the people of the nation. 

Let us accept the reality.  The political class has assumed that they will get the votes from some 20% to 25% of the electorate in any case, by hook or by crook, and that will take them “first past the post” - a quirky advantage granted in our election laws. 

In their estimation, this 20% to 25% is not only busy eking out an existence of two square meals, but is also so completely devoid of any access to law and justice, that their voices can be silenced, mostly by threat, often by force.

So when the middle class unexpectedly rose to call them to account, they were so shaken out of their stupor that they went irrational. Despite being reminded repeatedly by Anna Hazare from a national platform, the political class refused to accept that they are subordinate to the people of the nation.

The well-known advocate and legal expert, Fali Nariman, also used his enormous experience with our Constitution to proclaim on national television that “We the people . . . . “ precedes all other privileges of the political class, presumed or otherwise.
But irrationality held on.  Illegitimate force on women and children in the middle of the night, wild allegations against a Gandhian crusader which they failed to substantiate, and finally his unseemly arrest - all displayed the bankruptcy of statesmanship in a political class that was unequal to the challenge from citizens.

These were citizens who have suffered every humiliation that pathetic governance has thrown at them for six-and-a-half decades.   

Hiding behind “parliamentary privilege” now and targeting two honourable individuals for using strong language during their campaign for a Jan Lokpal Bill is so typical of the weak, who triggered the verbal duel in the first place through false allegations and uncouth words. 

Instead, our political class should develop the moral strength to realise that far more flowery language is frequently used all over the country to describe them and that the courageous response to reverse this is to offer honest and competent governance that takes our glorious nation forward, basically by eliminating poverty and illiteracy. 

What the politicians need to do urgently is some serious introspection.  Such introspection should lead them to immediately abandon their ivory towers and bow before the people in humility. Shun privileges of all kinds including the ugly VIPism.  Get real economists to work on reducing government expenditure to reduce inflation.

Do not hike price of critical inputs like diesel as that results in a price rise across the board. Return all agricultural land, grabbed unlawfully, to their rightful farmer owners. Help to mechanise farming as that can reduce pesticide consumption and increase farm yield. Make the Public Distribution System (PDS) work. 

Oversee genuine implementation of government’s policies on child and adult education in rural areas. Provide water and sanitation to every dwelling in every village on a war footing. Pay particular attention to women’s and children’s health because it is in imminent peril and can potentially result in a physically and
intellectually stunted next generation. 

Start a war on corruption. Display nobility in collecting and returning what-is-not-yours back to the national exchequer - let it benefit the poor. Make the bureaucracy accountable. Get the administration to deliver what they are supposed to. Citizens’ Charter in government offices is a brilliant idea. 

Implement all reform recommendations. Remember police reforms are due since the last century. Electoral reforms have been suggested by successive heads of the Election Commission since 2005, and are extremely urgent and critical for continued faith in our political system.  Judicial reforms are another crucial need because 35 million cases pending in our courts clearly imply that millions are not getting justice.    

Stop using law enforcing and investigating agencies as stooges, as has been alleged by many. Stop attacking voices of dissent by unleashing investigations against them. Such acts are seen as vindictive and will eventually erode your credibility altogether. 

Every Indian believes in our Parliamentary Democracy and respects the freedom our Constitution has bestowed upon us. Do not insult him by questioning this belief. It is his faith in many of those sitting inside our parliament that has come
under a cloud.         

Anna Hazare’s peaceful movement has galvanised an entire generation of young Indian citizens and has lighted the fire of nationalism in them anew. Young India is now determined to participate in national politics to get a clean, efficient and citizen-oriented government that is sensitive to the problems of the nation and has the competence and the willingness to address them quickly.

It will be short-sightedness of the government to turn a blind eye to this new reality. A new India is echoing Anna’s words now and saying to the government: Deliver or Go.

The writer is president, Professionals Party of India