For a change I am not targeting Hazare. It is his team which is in my crosshairs now.
If you recall, much before the team came together, Prashant Bhushan, joined later by his father Shanti Bhushan, aimed his ammunition at the justices of the Supreme Court.
This was the founding action of the team that Hazare joined and, for whatever reasons, it came to be called Team Anna. The team may have felt the need for a down-to-earth rural face, preferably sporting a Gandhi cap. Hazare fit the bill.
After the judiciary, it was the turn of the legislative branch of the government to receive the brickbats of Team Anna. This gave rise to two instances of supposedly fast-unto-death hunger strike by Hazare. The dramatics had the predictable short term run – indeed, doing worse than The Dirty Picture.
Now, after that temporary stir had been consigned to the flames of history, the team has focused on the executive, the cabinet, 14 ministers in all at last count. Of course, at the top of the heap is the prime minister and something had to be laid at his door. So, going truly deep sea fishing the team has come up with some procurement irregularities in the coal ministry years ago and only by chance Manmohan Singh was the minister in charge of that ministry. Oh, how so convenient!
This is the opening act for the next fast-unto-death / indefinite hunger strike. But, as per reports, the team is not going to be starving Hazare, but Kejriwal, Hazare’s putative deputy (in reality, the martinet/puppet master). Did you think Kiran Bedi would be starved? No, after all the IPS officer is a woman!
The team has done everything it can to undermine every institution of governance – legislature, executive and judiciary. The mega serial is in its last act, last scene, as there are no more villains. So, perhaps there is some hope for the really necessary reforms in governance. Do you expect the continuing saga will end with the enactment of an effective Lokpal Bill? How naïve can you be to even get close to that thinking?
The team’s one point agenda is to convert the nation into a series of Ralegan Siddhis, to be whipped (literally) into shape, no matter who loses what liberties that have come to be seen as essentials of a livable life. Life under a dictator, however much tolerable it may be, can never be livable, in the true sense of the word that encompasses freedoms and codifies rights and responsibilities.
This is a team of megalomaniacs and its prescription cannot but lead to dictatorship. The hunger strikes lead to the gates of hell. We have to keep them shut.
Raghuram Ekambaram
If you recall, much before the team came together, Prashant Bhushan, joined later by his father Shanti Bhushan, aimed his ammunition at the justices of the Supreme Court.
This was the founding action of the team that Hazare joined and, for whatever reasons, it came to be called Team Anna. The team may have felt the need for a down-to-earth rural face, preferably sporting a Gandhi cap. Hazare fit the bill.
After the judiciary, it was the turn of the legislative branch of the government to receive the brickbats of Team Anna. This gave rise to two instances of supposedly fast-unto-death hunger strike by Hazare. The dramatics had the predictable short term run – indeed, doing worse than The Dirty Picture.
Now, after that temporary stir had been consigned to the flames of history, the team has focused on the executive, the cabinet, 14 ministers in all at last count. Of course, at the top of the heap is the prime minister and something had to be laid at his door. So, going truly deep sea fishing the team has come up with some procurement irregularities in the coal ministry years ago and only by chance Manmohan Singh was the minister in charge of that ministry. Oh, how so convenient!
This is the opening act for the next fast-unto-death / indefinite hunger strike. But, as per reports, the team is not going to be starving Hazare, but Kejriwal, Hazare’s putative deputy (in reality, the martinet/puppet master). Did you think Kiran Bedi would be starved? No, after all the IPS officer is a woman!
The team has done everything it can to undermine every institution of governance – legislature, executive and judiciary. The mega serial is in its last act, last scene, as there are no more villains. So, perhaps there is some hope for the really necessary reforms in governance. Do you expect the continuing saga will end with the enactment of an effective Lokpal Bill? How naïve can you be to even get close to that thinking?
The team’s one point agenda is to convert the nation into a series of Ralegan Siddhis, to be whipped (literally) into shape, no matter who loses what liberties that have come to be seen as essentials of a livable life. Life under a dictator, however much tolerable it may be, can never be livable, in the true sense of the word that encompasses freedoms and codifies rights and responsibilities.
This is a team of megalomaniacs and its prescription cannot but lead to dictatorship. The hunger strikes lead to the gates of hell. We have to keep them shut.
Raghuram Ekambaram
5 comments:
The reason why the Team failed, I think, is their negative approach. In other words,they had no positive vision. They just harped on the same string of eradicating corruption through legislation when they at the same time banged on the head of the judiciary and all such systems... What indeed is their vision?
That is one way of looking at it, Matheikal. But, I think the failure traces itself to more basic things, like "I know best" attitude. I do nt believe the team ever listened to anyone, including themselves once they got on the moral high horse.
RE
their impact is becoming less. too much self righteous !
their impact is becoming less. too much self righteous !
And pala, from my perspective, the sooner and faster the better! Thanks.
RE
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