The Congress, Anna and I

a common mans journey through the movement a common mans impassioned plea to the leaders of the movement and the leaders of the country Like many other ordinary citizens, I have been a Congress loyalist for years. Like many others, my loyalty, while I also do admire the Congress, has had more to do with lack of other stable viable options. Down the years my family has voted for the trusted hand. Having repeatedly voted for the Congress and for the fact that for most part of the era post-independence, it is my Congress that has ruled, I will restrict my comments for only the Congress among the political class. We have been an admirer of many a Congress personality down the years. Of the current regime I admire: Manmohanji for his utter brilliance as an economist, his unreproachable integrity as a technocrat and as a reformist determined to push through with reforms; Pranabda for his troubleshooting skills, coalition politics and his unwavering desire to push through with financial reforms ; Soniaji for her great ability to keep the party n its allies together, where every member is strong-headed and with an agenda of his own; Kapil Sibal for his terrific start at the beginning of his innings with Education reforms and of course for his immense legal prowess and craftsmanship with words where even if he were in the wrong, he words himself to correctness. So here is my political party, in a UPA combine, with a fresh mandate for introducing the much needed reforms in all sectors and also for good governance. And the UPA did start on a promising note, or so it seemed. Circa 2011, and we have a scam unfolding with unfailing regularity and how. Scams of unimaginable scales, in almost every sector and involving every politician we know. And this I say because it would seem impossible I repeat IMPOSSIBLE for scams of this magnitude and frequency to have happened without the knowledge and participation of the powers that be. To be in the know is being co-conspirators in the case. The scale of corruption has been just too phenomenal to be brushed under the carpet. Indian citizens like me, for lack of choice, had resigned ourselves to accepting corruption as a way of life, where we encountered corruption at all levels everywhere in our daily lives. For even getting services that are rightfully due to us, we have always had to bribe our way to get past. We are not ones who would be alarmed by some politicians making a few additional crores. Time and history had made us immune. And yet we prayed and hoped that developmental programmes and reforms would be undertaken as promised, in the interest of the country and its citizens. So there I was, deeply disappointed that my small hopes had been damningly dashed. And there I was, extremely angry for the widespread corruption. And thats all I could do, be deeply disappointed and angry. Could I or any individual citizen taken on a mighty government, so ferociously determined in its agenda of corruption. Country and citizens be damned! We are not a country done in by insufficient natural resources. We are not a country done in by poverty and illiteracy. We are not a country done in by lack of world class systems, technology and know-how. (Some of the brains behind path breaking world class systems being Indian). We are not a country done in by our circumstances. The truth is Indias natural resources, poverty, illiteracy, systems, technology and Indias circumstances have been done in, and been done in badly by the political class. India has been done in by an absolute lack of political will. India has been done in by politics.

Enter Anna Hazare in April 2011. Social Reformist Anna Hazare launches an anti-corruption movement and he is to go on indefinite strike to exact pressure on the government to enact a stringent anti-corruption law. So who is Anna Hazare? For the many uninitiated, Google and Wikipedia provided the answers. Indian citizens updated themselves with the background and achievements of this diminutive man born on 15 June 1957 as Kishan Baburao Hazare in a village of Ralegaon Siddhi, Maharashtra. His early education up to Grade 7 was sponsored by a relative in Mumbai. Thereafter he sold flowers at the Dadar Phool Bazaar to eke out a living. He was then recruited into the army as a soldier, (under the emergency recruitment policy of the government caused by the Indo-China War) although he did not meet the physical requirements. During the Indo-Pak war of 1965, he was the lone survivor of an enemy attack on their army truck on the border at the Khem Karan sector, while he was driving the truck. It was impossible he should have survived. It was impossible he could have survived. There had to be something more to it. A hand of god he felt, who wanted him to stay alive for some reason. It was then that he decided to dedicate his life to the service of people. He read the works of Swami Vivekananda, Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave and was deeply influenced by their thoughts and beliefs. Yet again in mid-1970 he survived a road accident while driving the army truck. This reinforced his belief that there was a greater force keeping him alive for a reason. He knew for sure that his life was meant to be for a larger cause -in the service of the community. He returned to his village of Ralegaon Siddhi. Like most villages throughout India, it was plagued by acute poverty, deprivation, a fragile ecosystem, neglect and hopelessness. Over years he transformed the village by using a run-down temple as the focal point of the village and starting a Tarun Mandal (Youth Association), influenced by Swami Vivekanandas book Call to the Youth for Nation Building. Some of his development programmes included Prohibition of alcohol, Grain Bank, Watershed Development programmes, Milk production as secondary occupation, Education, Removal of untouchability, Collective marriages, Gram Sabha to name a few. In this way he spearheaded the development and transformation of Ralegaon Siddhi. In 1992 he was awarded the Padmabhushan, the highest civilian award, by the Government of India in recognition for establishing his village as a model for others. So this was the Social Reformist Anna. Lets move on to the Social Activist Anna. He had in the past had taken on local governments at various levels in his crusade for righting the wrongs and for most part succeeded. Popular among them were the Anti-corruption movement in Maharashtra, Right to Information movement, Regulation of Transfers, Prevention of Delay in Discharge of Official Duties Act, Campaign against Liquor from foodgrains and then of course the Lokpal Bill. A man of such credentials surely couldnt be someone of ordinary resolve. And Indians all over, bemused as they were, watched and prayed for his success to whatever the extent that it might be. Even the most optimistic of us did not know what to expect from the indefinite fast and what to make of the Lokpal Bill. Honestly at that point, for the common man, it wasnt as much about the Lokpal bill, inasmuch as it was about decidedly showing our total dissent and disgruntlement to the political class. This we thought we would demonstrate by aligning to his crusade against corruption. It was very encouraging to see eminent citizens throw their weight behind the cause and display their support by being with him during the fast. Social activist like Medha Patkar, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi aligned too. Spiritual leaders such as Sri Sri Ravishankar, Swami Agnivesh and Baba Ramdev aligned too. It was a civil society movement and not allowed to be used as a political platform by any political party. More importantly it was to be a peaceful, non-violent protest and it was a welcoming re-endorsement of the fact that we can address issues without incorporating violent means.

Our respectable Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh did appeal to Anna to call off his fast. A gentlemanly and perhaps the right thing to do. Anna carried on with his fast nevertheless starting on April 5, 2011. Indians who singularly could not have raised their voices, now collectively rallied around him, as he begun his fast-onto -death. About 150 more people fasted alongwith him. Anna at this point was not merely the man per se. He was now an embodiment of millions of Indians who rallied behind him all throughout the country and beyond, physically attending rallies, virtually networking on twitter, facebook and individual blogs. And a mass movement had begun, galvanising Indians spread across all geographies to rightfully demand for a corruption free India. The government relented and Anna broke his fast on April 9th. A Joint Drafting Committee comprising 5 members of the Government and 5 members of the Civil Society was in charge of drafting the Lokpal Bill. The bill was to be passed by August 15th. As promised by the Govt, a meeting or two showed promising dialogue between the two parties. Thereafter, it was the usual business of politics. The Anna team was completely sidelined. Very unilaterally, with complete disregard for the other side, (in what has now become the established trademark of Congresss modus operandi, as repetitively demonstrated by them), my Congress drafted a toothless Lokpal Bill. The people watched with utter disbelief as Honble ministers Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal released the Lokpal Bill and address a press conference with no representative from the Civil Society. Can you blame them. For my Congress and its ministers, it was re-inforcing the belief of being the be-all and end-all of India. What came out of that meeting was the enormous single minded determination of the mighty government to bully minions that came in their way. Also the faces of the honble ministers were coloured deep with arrogance. Team Anna protested by burning copies of the Lokpal Bill. Not all would agree with their demonstrative methods. And I the common man tried to make sense of the situation: What exactly was required to be on the bill? Why were Civil Society members not given its right to participate in drafting of the bill as promised. Why was Team Anna disappointed? Were Team Anna right in their public demonstration of anger? Contempt of the Parliament, cried the Political Class. Did they say Contempt of the Parliament? Or did I hear wrong? Are they qualified to talk of Contempt of Parliament? And are we supposed to defend their criticism of Civil Societys misbehaviour, when they themselves have so brazenly misbehaved for years? Or am I to now to reconcile and believe that unbridled corruption, partisan politics, horse trading, disruptive parliamentary proceedings and not to forget the complete disconnect with your electorate is no longer to be considered as Contempt of Parliament? Then Baba Ramdev happened. Much revered for his immense knowledge on the subject of Yoga, he has enjoyed a large fan following for the natural cures that he has effected on millions. He decided to go on a fast as well. The Government took note. When a movement championed by a relatively obscure Anna Hazare had suitably shaken the country, Baba Ramdev was not to be taken lightly. All pre-emptive measures and talks were put in place with the maverick yoga guru. The Government had already been angered once with some obscure man holding them to ransom very recently. They were in no mood for an encore. This time they would teach all crusaders a lesson, once and for all. The Baba Ramdev movement was done in by Baba Ramdev and his histrionics.

A word on Baba Ramdev. I, like many others have been a beneficiary of some of his yoga disciplines and I commend him for all his work on the subject. And yes his movement did collapse due to his wrongful responses to the government action. Had he stayed put at the ground when police action was ordered, the people of India would have rallied around him. Many felt that he should not have ventured out on this political excursion. I think otherwise. He had an issue with black money that was bothering him and he decided to take a stand. Given his following, he thought he could set the government into action. Yes he did misjudge. Yes his movement failed to sustain. Yes he did fail. And yet I do commend him for taking a stand. Success alone cannot be the judging factor of any progressive action. Failed attempts also contribute. The failure of the Baba Ramdev movement was a much needed shot in the arm for the Government, who now established beyond doubt that police breakdown on crusaders is the right way to go. And that arrogance grew manifold. Enter Anna Round 2. And police breakdown on the protest was ordered right away. Soaring arrogance had blinded the Governments wisdom. Forget wisdom. That seemed too tall an order for a government woefully disconnected from ground realities. Common sense seemed completely lacking. The governments police action gave the movement the greatest impetus it could have got. That single act unified all of India, Hazare supporters and non-supporters. In quick succession throughout Round 2, the Congress bungled, bungled again, bungled yet again and kept bungling. With the party high command away on medical grounds, the ranks were in total disarray. My Congress was like a ship without its Captain at sea in very turbulent waters. Not knowing which way to be steered and by whom. The Anna Protest Round 2 has been well documented. What came out strikingly about my Congress Party was its complete inability and astounding unwillingness to see a problem on hand. Their arrogance seemed insurmountable. The people of India could not believe that this is the very party that we gave a fresh mandate just recently. My Congress was no mood to connect with me, much less entertain me. Meetings between Government representatives and Team Anna, intermediaries notwithstanding, turned ugly many a time with both taking hardline positions. New charges were levelled against every member of Team Anna, Anna himself included, in a forcefully vindictive manner. These were projected with great prominence to the public gathered to deflect from the issue on hand. Cmon, get a hold on yourself honble ministers. The nation has been plundered of its wealth and you have not so much as batted an eyelid. Why does lose change in decimals bother you so much. And if loose change does bother you so much, effecting a strong anti-corruption bill would help you address this. Much has been said about Team Anna and its lack of finesse. Kiran Bedis single act on stage was singled out as breach of privilege. On a personal level, many would not have concurred with her display of dissent. The lady has been a role model for many Indians and has had a lot of achievements to her credit: her daredevilry as a police officer, her reforms in the prisons etc have earned her the Magsaysay award. Even after she has retired she has been held in high esteem. So this was not a behaviour one associated with her. Rightfully there was a backlash of opinions on that single act. That said, let us not digress from the main agenda of pressing for effective anti-corruption measures. She is entitled to her lack of judgement on that one instance, just as we misjudge and react wrongly on many an occasion. That cannot wipe away the body of good work done by her in the past and present.

Arvind Kejriwal, an IPS officer and a successful activist of the RTI movement, is a simple speaker but surprisingly unflinching in his stand. For my Congressmen he lacks the tact of speaking. But tell me, how many MPs speak sense. A quick viewing of the Lok Sabha proceedings will quickly help one arrive at the truth. Arvind Kejriwal also has some unpaid taxes, as we are led to believe. How many of our political class have paid all their dues to the State of India. How many have their dues outstanding and what are the amounts? Who is following up on these cases? Who are they accountable to? Have their financial irregularities been badgered repeatedly into public memory. Never mind. This is not a topic worthy of our political classs time or discussion. Understandably so. Shanti Bhushan has views on Kashmir that are not in line with the views of National stand. We have every right to choose whether we agree with him or not. And while we may not agree with his views he is entitled to his views. And have the people of India rallied behind him on Kashmir? Those are his views in his private capacity and on a matter that we the people have neither aligned with, nor gone on a mass protest for. Lets leave it at that. And then theres Annasaheb. He has many a view on many matters apart from the Lokpal Bill. Those again are his personal views and beliefs, which he is entitled to. What is important to note here is: Have people rallied around him for his views on punitive measures for alcoholism? Have the people rallied around him for his views on FDI? Have people rallied around him on his Pawar slap reaction? No they have not. Lets get one thing straight here: people have rallied behind Anna for his anti-corruption drive. People have not rallied for the personality as much as they have rallied for a public cause. While we may argue that he can be really stubborn and dictatorial, can we really be complaining? It is this very quality in him that has managed to bring my recalcitrant government to the negotiating table. Good manners and gentle conversations havent succeeded as much. From the outset Anna has dispelled any notion that he is Gandhi 2. If anything at all, he has emphasized that he is all but an ordinary human being hugely influenced by Gandhi, inasmuch as he has been influenced by Swami Vivekananda and Vinoba Bhave. He wants to do his bit for the society with non-violent protests. But for sure he does not want to be counted in the same breadth as Gandhi. It was peoples perception and media projection that insisted on calling him Gandhi. Fortunately he has carved out his own identity of Anna now. So all members of Team Anna are ordinary civil society members, who have taken up the cause of corruption and relentlessly worked towards it for almost a year. In doing this they have also put their lives at risk, very well aware that they would be targets of a vindictive offensive by the government. (While the powers that be may not heckle an Anna directly, the smaller names would always be an easy prey). The Janlokpal online movement, alongwith associated movements like IAC, has successfully managed to broadcast views, disseminate news, post updates in the most cost-effective and timely manner. They have employed every modern online marketing methods to reach their thoughts to millions vide facebook, twitter, website, and what have you, and that too with a multiplier effect. And with great efficiency they have broadcast their intent and mobilised crowds all over in the shortest time possible. We must credit them for bringing corruption to the centrestage like never before. As regards the Janlokpal Bill, it is not a product of a mere thinking of Anna and his 5-10 members, as is widely projected. These members have taken the role of facilitators travelling the length and breadth of the country for almost a year, meeting with legal experts, constitutional experts and engaging with eminent people from cross sections of the society. They have initiated and carried out an exhaustive study of the subject on hand, and come up with a series of reasoned deliberations with the experts both face to face and virtually over the net. The preliminary proposed legislations thus formulated have then been put out for larger discussions within the Civil Society and online to the public at large. Each legislation has then 5

been reviewed taking into account the numerous suggestions and criticisms it has received, with a view to strengthen it and to make it as loophole free. So to say that is merely a thought process of 5-10 people is fallacious and misleading. It can be argued that if people start taking law-making in its hand, what is the role of the parliament. Let us reaffirm our faith in Parliament as the only law-making body in the country. This is the reality, just as is the reality that the Parliament must reflect the will of the people. And if better ideas come from the people of the country, from outside the parliament, then so be it. These ideas if meritorious must be given a chance to be taken up for discussion. Here we have had a case where citizens have pro-actively engaged and worked towards resolving the corruption issue with positive inputs by way of proposed reformatory legislation. Isnt that a better situation to be in than to have citizens just throwing up their hands in despair and helplessness, just blaming the government for corruption.

So while Team Anna and the Janlokpal movement have been doing great work, like us they are just as fallible. True, they have erred. That that doesnt make them wholly wrong. And surely there is room for improvement. Like many other Indians who have passionately rooted for the Anna Hazares anti-corruption crusade and worn the I am Anna cap any allegation levied against the movement or its members, I interpret as an allegation against every one of the millions supporting it, including me. I appeal to the leaders of the movement, that in the interest of the movement we need to seriously look into every accusation and attempt by detractors to derail or malign the movement. And where wrong, to magnanimously pledge to themselves to right the wrongs, so as to not only come out as winners, but come out as winners the right way as we persevere, persist & prevail. We would do Gandhi proud. I am Anna and I have been accused of being stubborn with a My way or highway stand. I do not fully accept this accusation because I believe that Team Anna have pressed for the bill to be put up for a fair debate in the parliament, with every point being debated for its merits/demerits. However recent experiences have shown that important bill clauses were straight away discarded into the bin, without any debate. Subsequently there were strong reactions from the Team, and justifiably so. But I do admit that they have reacted strongly. And I appeal to the leaders of the movement - as members of the movement they make a pledge to themselves, henceforth: I will RESPOND appropriately and not REACT. I will RESPOND always calmly to the charges and not against the person making the charges. I will RESPOND with supportive facts and logic for my agreement or disagreement. I will RESPOND always politely but firmly. I will RESPOND with great applause if best preventive laws have come out of others suggestions. I would do Gandhi proud. I am Anna and I have been accused of making personal attacks against the Congress, Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi, Soniaji or Pawar saheb. It may be true that they have let us down or that their efforts havent quite measured up or even worse. But the intelligent public will make their necessary inferences about the party or person. The movement need not take names. And while the movement is certainly entitled to its disappointment, right now the movement must focus on the larger cause and not individual detractors. So I do admit that they have been personal in their attacks. And I appeal to the leaders of the movement that as members of the movement they make a pledge to themselves, henceforth: I will publicly express my disappointments about inaction/ wrongful action of a person. But not attack the person himself. I will not talk about any single personalities. My movement does not need names to enhance or dilute it. I will campaign against wrongful practices and NOT against the practitioners. I would do Gandhi proud. 6

I am Anna and I have been accused of being arrogant and rude with the Parliamentarians, media etc. These have been trying times for the leaders of the movement. From a relatively private and low-profile life they have been thrust to the forefront of a very high profile war on corruption. The intense media and public scrutiny and the onerous task of negotiating with my tough-talking flip-flopping politicians, have had a toll on them. And in their attempts to cope they have been admittedly rude and stand-offish. But since they would anyday hold a Gandhi as a benchmark for behaved response, and not Digvijay Singh or a Manoj Tiwari, they must refrain from speaking in a manner similar to the one fashioned by these icons of illbehaviour. So I do admit they have sounded rude and arrogant. And I appeal to the leaders of the movement - as members of the movement they make a pledge to themselves, henceforth: I will ensure that the tone of engagement shall always be polite. I will ensure that the languaging in discussions or responses shall always be positive yet firm. I will engage with whoever at whatever level with equal respect and attention. I would do Gandhi proud. I am Anna and I have been accused of using the widely supported forum of the anti-corruption movement to propagate all my other private views, and strong views at that, on matters other than corruption. It is true that many of the facilitators of this movement have many a view on topics different from the Janlokpal Bill. But it is equally true that sometimes the team members have been asked their views on various topics in their various capacities outside the purview of the movement. However since they are faces of the movement, for the moment everything they say or do even privately is associated with the movement. So I do admit there has been lack of clarity on views. And I appeal to the leaders of the movement - as members of the movement they make a pledge to themselves, henceforth: I will re-inforce with one and all that we are together for one cause- the Anti-corruption movement. I will respond to only queries pertinent to the movement on that forum. I will clarify if I make comments in private capacity outside purview of the movement. Better still, I will refrain from making any private comments till such time the movement finishes its tasks I would do Gandhi proud.

I am Anna and I have been accused of financial wrongdoing. Among all charges levelled, this is most serious. The charges if true, are against the very essence of the movement and could derail the entire movement. The public, well aware of the Govts vindictive response pattern has not taken these charges seriously. But I do admit that the leaders have serious charges against them. And I appeal to the leaders of the movement - as members of the movement they make a pledge to themselves, henceforth: I will treat every charges levelled against me with equanimity and respond appropriately. I will take necessary recourse of law & media (print, electronic and social) to transparently resolve the case I will ensure that my integrity is beyond reproach. I would do Gandhi proud. A special kudos to the media. While the Janlokpal movement owes its impact mainly to the volumes of ordinary citizens who have aligned to the cause, one must acknowledge the role of the media for propelling the movement to the forefront-by diligently following the movement, standing by the movement and repeatedly taking it to all households of the country. The governments wrath notwithstanding. But a special plea to the media here. To understand that the leaders of the movement are ordinary citizens and have yet to acquaint themselves with being media savvy. In the interest of the movement and nation at large, to refrain from instigating the the movement leaders into reacting, and soliciting juicy or inflammatory soundbytes detrimental to the movement. 7

And finally coming back to the Congress - the leaders of my country. Having repeatedly voted for the Congress, I seek some answers from them, while I also make an impassioned appeal to them. Totally disillusioned by their self-absorbed nation-be damned stand, which has been unashamedly on display ever so often, I wonder where do we go from here? Who can we entrust our vote with for the nation building exercise? Who can we entrust our vote with for fast-tracking India from a poor developing nation to its rightful status as a developed nation? Who can we entrust our vote with for introducing the much delayed reforms across all sectors: Agriculture, Power, Water & Energy, Education, Science & Technology, Healthcare? Who can we entrust our vote with for alleviating poverty? Who can we entrust our vote with for making education-for-all a reality? Who can we entrust our vote with for robust rural development considering 70% of India is in the villages? Who can we entrust our vote with for giving Infrastructure development in urban & rural areas the top priority it deserves? Who can we entrust our vote with for guiding reforms in all above sectors from a policy to implementation stage until they become a reality? Are we getting too ambitious? Or have we meekly accepted that this is too tall an order for a government given multiple terms at the office? I think not! I believe that India has been endowed with vast natural resources, ranking among top nations in the world with a rich bio-diversity. India has ability to raise enough money to initiate projects across all sectors. India has enough human talent, with a large proportion being young people, a unique strength for any country. Through world-class application-based education the youth can be main drivers of these projects. Indias rural prosperity for 700 million of Indians living in about 6 lakh villages can be most definitely achieved through physical , electronic and knowledge connectivity. Sure this is an onerous task that will take years. But 60 years have been years too many already. What India needs most is: TRUE LEADERSHIP I look up to you, the leaders of my country to demonstrate leadership: creative, innovative, economic and moral that will motivate & inspire every one of its citizen to work in a MISSION-MODE towards a developed India, difficult conditions notwithstanding. Its not because things are difficult that we do not dare. Its because we do not dare that things are difficult. I look up to you, the leaders of my country to galvanise India on to the progress path, going beyond our petty politics and the partisan personal wealth- building exercises and replacing it with a larger nationalwealth building exercise. I look up to you the leaders of my country to pledge to lift India and the destiny of its people to reflect the true essence of an Emerging Power. I look up to you, the leaders of my country to display outstanding political will, integrity and tenacity in making our dreams a reality. I look up to you, the leaders of my country to show statesmanship and heroic. I look up to you, the leaders of my country for a nod in the affirmative.