A few days back, India celebrated its 64th year of Independence with a lot of pomp and show even as the ‘Fight Against Corruption’ undertaken by Anna Hazare gained prominence over the weekend. The Tricolour fluttered over rooftops, the Red Fort and most institutions to mark the emancipation from the British but the fact that almost every person we elected, has looted the country’s resources and plundered our nation’s coffers, leaves us with a daunting question – Are we really free!?
Freedom is what we make of it; how we perceive it; each of us interprets it in our unique way.
Isn’t it about time we realize that the situation has deteriorated to unimaginable levels such that an honest person fears to stick to his ideals and finds it a safer and better option to follow the crowd and become the money grubbing mongrels that we grew up detesting.
So, now we know that something needs to be done and fast. Arvind Kejriwal with his team of nationalist crusaders have come up with their version of the much criticized Lokpal Bill … popularly known as the Jan Lokpal Bill. The trouble with the entire fiasco is that their initiative has woken up the people from a deep slumber or maybe even given them the courage to finally be able to vent their frustration on an open platform, but a large majority are unaware of the postulates of the ‘Bill’ they are asking to implement on themselves. So here’s an overview of what it states and how it compares to what the government plans to implement.
A Comparison between the Jan Lokpal Bill and the Draft Lokpal Bill:
Arvind Kejriwal explains the Jan Lokpal Bill
For more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Lokpal_Bill
THE JAN LOKPAL BILL BY EXPERT
Facebook voting app: http://apps.facebook.com/knowthelokpalbill/
Even though I’m a supporter of the Jan Lokpal Bill and in-turn Anna Hazare, what disappoints me most is the fact that the common perception of the crowd is to criticize and stoop low enough to begin name calling anyone who choses not to be a part of the herd. People who have something different to say about it are being branded ‘desh-drohi’ and it is expected that every Indian must support the cause.
Even though this fight has become one of the biggest show of the power of democracy for the country (often being quoted as the second fight for Independence), the basic essence of democracy is taking a blow at the expense of people who have been manipulated by the hype created by over-the-top advertising and relentless media coverage.
You have the right to take a stand but I‘d recommend that you arm yourself with a decent knowledge about what is going on (other than the Hungerstrikes) and what the Lokpal is all about. If you’re a blind supporter or a vocal disapprover of the movement, step back because you have nothing to contribute.
