For last tow days I am not able to concentrate on any work, either my studies or my usual daily knowledge building practices. I am continuously keeping a watch over Anna Hazare – Tihar Jail episode and its impact on common man of India, thoughtless public, literate and so called thoughtful intellectuals, politicians, democracy makers, leaders, foreign reaction over agitation. In two days I have gone through many good articles, finally thought of writing one as of my understanding.
People may find it good or bad, but I find it much similar to Baba Ramdev episode, as at the end the common man will be a looser. But the difference among two episodes is the supporting angle of media. Making of a man and ruining other. Media must understand its responsibility TRP game is not everything. Touching people nerve and making news is not the real work of media, that is only business.
Today I feel that India's constitution makers kept the feudal mindset of protecting the rules while impaling imperialism over us. The Constitution of India is the longest written constitution of any country in the world, containing 444 articles, 12 schedules and 94 amendments, with 117,369 words in its English language version, while the United States Constitution is the shortest written constitution, at 7 articles and 27 amendments.
In first thought a constitution written with this much effort and with the number of amendments can not be denied and challenged by someone moving around by gathering people, those who even don’t know what they are fighting for.
Donald Kagan famous history professor states democracies "need to meet three conditions if they are to flourish. The first is to have a set of good institutions; the second is to have a body of citizens who possess a good understanding of the principles of democracy, the third is to have a high quality of leadership, at least at critical moments". India is suffering from a serious shortage of powerful leaders and democrat public. At this time what Indian public need is the dictator.
Today in India a new meaning of dictatorship is being coined by Anna Hazare. Its not a fake attempt for sure, its planned and conscious attempt by the Anna party. So called Civil Socialists are holding each and every front. Technocrat, administrator, social worker, lawyer, writer each one is the part of strong team.
Today the government itself is preparing Ramlila ground for protest. Political parties are using the time to cut the root of other parties. Fighting against constitution and fighting against the corruption is quiet different. These are two different issues are merged together. The war is not only against corruption, now war is against the ideologies.
While today the US constitution is suffering over separation of powers and checks and balances, the Indian constitution is suffering from concentrated power in the hands of very few with no checks.
The same situation will come with lok-pal if it comes for larger domain, when again the power will be in the hand of very few and administrable domain will be so big. Even India is having second heaviest public in the world where the states are not divided into the fully self governing units like US which is United States of America.
Recently in our country we found that a corrupt chief minister had to leave his post. But the outcome was even worse that he was given the choice to decide his successor on his will. What a shame it is. Corruption and politics are un-separable in any corner of the world.
When Indira Gandhi dismissed governments at will it was said emergency. It took just 3 days for Indian parliament to ratify the constitution. That Indira Gandhi could paralyze democracy by declaring Emergency and a weasel of a President is a shameful feature. But a man is using media and gathering people against constitution is very graceful for our country?
Every here and then Mr L.K.Adwani starts to remember Emergency days. But he forgets the condition he created when he started his Rath Yatra. Still that hatred can be seen hearts.
Unlike Bollywood movies Delhi Police’s Pre-emptive action to maintain law and order detained more than 1000 people on 16th august. Just next day of Indian Independence day, Where is independence.
The lok-pal exemption of the Prime Minister is really ridiculous, but covering each and every government official under lokpal is also impractical. It is said that the office of PM is dignified and hence should not be subject to litigation. The dignity of an office is in the transparency not in how the office holder is shielded. Judiciary and law enforcement will be tough.
In US, Paula Jones, a simple state employee, sued the US President who is often referred to as the most powerful man on earth after GOD. Bill Clinton had to testify before a grand jury. There is no constitutional bar. If Americans, even in 17th centaury, have told that a President is beyond the reach of the law until he demits office in order to maintain decorum, but the Supreme Court unanimously ruled against Clinton and allowed the lawsuit to proceed. Then we can also make it possible but this must be kept in mind that for every small or big case these people should not disturbed. The cases must be preceded with the severity and urgency of the settlement of case.
Surely control by Lokpal will be tough, and control over Lokpal will also be tough in future. Same thing for electing a LokPal team again the same public will be choosing the members or those who will be in power. To implement Lokpal we need to make a new force. A parallel government which will keep eye on the actual governments acts. According to the government the current structure of constitution will be disturbed. One can challenge old judicial decisions.
When the Patriot Act was passed in USA, addressing serious loopholes in national security, it was debated hotly to protect individual rights. On May 26, 2011, President Barack Obama signed a four-year extension of three key provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act. The act needs to be renewed by the Congress.
Why can’t we wait for Lok-Pal to come in parliament and to be debated? Any how if we won’t keep faith on the elected members by us then there is no meaning of democracy. I don’t know how many of those who are behind Anna use to vote?
When election comes we goes behind big party, big banner, But we don’t see the person whom we are electing. We are always happy to elect Actors – Actresses.
Saas-Bahu serial actors can win election because of there powerful role in the mega-serial, no matter what amount of social responsive and activeness.
90% of our movies depict the leader as corrupt person. Do any growing child dreams to be a politician in India accept a politician’s kid. Its not at all a dream for any child then how we will have a bright politician.
Our constitution has paralyzed our country. Amending a law, or enforcing new law will not help at all. Constitution must remain in the original form or it should be changed.
In Ambedkar's constitution retains the spirit of the colonialism. In Indian constitution what is good is not original and what is original is not good.
In fact I wonder if anything is original thinking other than the quota system and choice of religion. Even that was not designed well. It was originally envisaged only for 10 years. Now it’s already 64 years. The constitution said that quota should not exceed 50%. Now it is around 60%.
If Anna want to fight truly for nation and not for his “JAN LOK-PAL” bill which they drafted with some effort then, He must fight for a new constitution which is not the copy and paste of any predated constitutions.
Bibliography :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~jwestern/ir319/strobe_talbott.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Jones#cite_note-Case_95-1853-1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act
http://www.sankalpindia.net/drupal/ambedkar-the-architect-indian-constitution
Thursday, 18 August 2011
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