Political Diary

New Delhi, 31 December 2011

This Religion of Corruption

ANY WONDER, THIS KOLAVERI DI!

By Poonam I Kaushish

Andher Nagri, chaupat Sarkar aur netagan. This dear readers is the tragic testimony of 2011. An Annus Horribilis with a litany of events that put us to shame: The political farce on corruption, a weak PM and tough Anna, strong focus on corruption and a weak draft of the Lokpal Bill; a divided UPA II and a strong Opposition; high decibels and little transaction in Parliament, food and fuel prices went up, high inflation and low Sensex et al. Any wonder, this Kolaveri Di! 

Nothing depicts the aam aadmi’s murderous rage than the farcical nautanki played out in both Houses of Parliament on three much-awaited legislations aimed at fighting corruption in public life specially the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill. In the Lok Sabha, the Opposition stubbed the move to give the Lokpal Constitutional status. The Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die sans vote after an 11 hour on the Government’s fallacious plea that it needed time “to study” the 187 amendments and the House could not be extended beyond midnight. Notwithstanding, the President being informed.

Underscoring as never before that the debates seemed completely choreographed by all our Right Honourables to obstruct, delay and mutate the Lokpal.  No matter the pious protestations to the contrary. Think, ever since the anti-corruption crusade gained popular support, the polity has responded by turning the Lokpal issue into a fight to manage its public perceptions. Why did the Congress bring a Bill with caveats including on 50% reservation in the Lokpal which would be struck down by the Courts? And the Opposition knowing the Bill lacked Constitutional infirmities still vote for it in the Lok Sabha? Why 187 amendments?

The regional Parties used it as a bargaining chip to extract goodies from the Congress in the Rajya Sabha where it lacked numbers. Both the Samajwadi and BSP walked out in the Lok Sabha but changed course later.  Mamata’s Trinamool sudden aggression in objecting to the Lokayukta issue was very strange because in the Lok Sabha the Party voted for the Bill.  And neither had it raised any objections in the Cabinet.

In fact, it was open secret in the corridors of power that the RJD would create a ruckus prior to voting and the Bill would not be passed. Confided a senior Cabinet Minister, “Sab mangtai hai ek sashakt Bill but chup-chap kahte hain bhai galle main phansi kyoin daal rahe ho. Pass maat karna hum sab ka bhalaa hoga.”  The got what they wanted. The people? Another milestone in a culture of deferment, delay and dilution instead of the hoped-for resolute action. Showcasing the ruthless subversion of democracy.

Sadly, the future of the anti-corruption legislation is now uncertain. Confided a leader, “It's a long way between January and March when Parliament’s Budget session will be convened after the five Assembly elections. The importance of the Bill will be lost as there are no further State polls, the General Elections are in 2014 and post Anna Hazare’s poor Mumbai show his fear has gone”

As for the UPA the less said the better. There little evidence of it being either united or progressive and at times even behaved like a mis-alliance. We have a Prime Minister who doesn't enjoy his Party's confidence; a Congress President who has no views on anything; and an heir apparent who doesn't enjoy the title. We witnessed a new low in inter-personal relations, a public spat between the No 2 and 3 in the Cabinet: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his counterpart in Home Chidambaram over the former office being bugged and the later being mentioned in a note on the 2G scam.

As for the BJP its lot was no better. The Party failed to resolve its leadership question, with L K Advani still clinging to his Prime Ministerial ambition and the Gen Next leaders openly trying to pull the other down.  So badly was it caught napping that into this vacant space marched Anna Hazare.

Perhaps, the year will be remembered best for being the year of Anna --- a year when for the first time in independent India where corruption is a religion, the issue of graft dominated the national centre stage. Symbolised by the aam janata who thronged New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in August and Ramlila Maidan in October there were there not for Lokpal per se but because they thought something could finally be done about corruption.

The mistake Anna made in his show or should one say no-show in Mumbai last month was that he changed the agenda from the broad, easily digestible slogan of anti-corruption to narrow, legalistic debate on the nitty-gritty of the Lokpal Bill, inclusion of  Group C/D Government employees and CBI functioning thereby losing the emotional quotient. Democracy whether Anna’s or our polity is not about my way or the highway!

On the social and economic front too, things are depressing. Six decades after Independence, after spending trillions on education, health and food two thirds of our people continue to be hungry, illiterate, unskilled and bereft of basic medical care. On caste, creed or secularism we have been promised equality ad nauseum only to be betrayed and trashed without an iota of guilt over and over again.  

This is not all. The aam aadmi plank of the Government appears to be coming unstuck, bringing onion tears to the Congress leadership, as price rise continued to give a tough time to the common man. Will ending the financial year with GDP growth of 7.2-7.5% alleviate the misery of the people, crippled by the onslaught of rising prices and sky-rocketing inflation? Disillusionment and discontent is spiraling. Borne out by rising farmers’ suicides, despite doles by the Prime Minister, chakka jams and bandhs.

All in all, the writing is on the wall. The Congress-led UPA is down in the dumps but whether the BJP is in a position to exploit its misery is still in doubt. The aam aadmi is angry, very angry and corruption only completes the tragedy. The time has come to bell the political cat of convenience.

In sum, many challenges lie ahead. If the events of 2011 were influenced by 2010’s misrule, our leaders need to curtail this angry torrent. The people want change. They have blown the conch against the fraud repeatedly wrought on them year after year. As I hum Kolaveri Di wonder where and when are political Rajnikanths’ and Chulbul Pandeys’ will  stand up to be counted! ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)