Hazare’s call for a second Independence struggle to get the Jan Lokpal Bill enacted has elicited a tremendous response across the various strata of the society.
Over the last few days, Anna Hazare’s fight against corruption is spreading across the country. Hazare’s call for a second Independence struggle to get the Jan Lokpal Bill enacted has elicited a tremendous response across the various strata of the society.
But how do those in the various departments perceived to be among the most corrupt see the proposed legislation as well as struggle to get the same enacted.
DNA spoke to the city police, starting from the lowest grade official to a high-ranking official, which is seen to be among the pillars of the corrupt order.
A constable working in commissioner’s office was all in awe for Anna. He, however, pointed out that the passing of the Jan Lokpal Bill is not the be-all and end-all of eliminating corruption.
Observing that mere fast and protests could not put an end to corruption, he said: “The implementation of the Bill is important.”
“The lower rank officials take bribes and pay a part of the amount to their superiors. Somehow, their names do not come out. But fortunately, the recent report on illegal mining named a few top politicians and officials. If such irregularities continue to get exposed, corruption will come to a halt,” he said.
Seconding his opinion was another police constable working as the driver of a high-ranking official in the commissioner’s office.
“The nation may be dreaming about the end of corruption through Anna’s fight, but that’s never going to happen,” he said.
He admitted that corruption existed in the very system he was a part of. “Bribes exist in the police department. Some officials pay bribes so that they get transferred to their preferred destination,” he said.
A police constable at Whitefield police station categorically said that he was not for Anna’s anti-corruption movement. He stated that there were a lot of loopholes in what Anna stood for.
“Jan Lokpal Bill is good and Anna’s fight for the inclusion of the prime minister and the judges under its preview is also good. But what’s the guarantee that the members of the Lokpal will not take bribe? Who will administer them? Anna is not as great as Gandhi, and he will never be,” the constable said.
On the other hand, an IPS officer, said, “At such an age, if Anna goes without food for so many days, he will certainly collapse. He will not be able to address a huge gathering with so much energy.”
The official pointed out that Anna’s protest was being propped up by unprecedented media attention. “Once the media stops going to him, he would certainly land up in a hospital. What he is doing is nothing but a waste of time. It seems like he is trying hard to get the tag of Mahatma Gandhi,” he said.
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