Soon after Team Anna ended their ten day fast at Jantar
Mantar due to poor response from the citizens, now that Baba Ramdev, the
controversial Yoga Guru has commenced a 72 hour fast at Ram Lila grounds. His demands
are more or less on the same lines adopted by Team Anna but unlike Anna Hazaare
and his colleagues taking a rigid stand on the issue of a strong Lokpal Baba
has chosen a flexible approach on the most important demand - a diluted version
of Lokpal. He has no opposition to the Lokpal bill prepared by the Central govt
getting passed in Parliament and if at all any minor amendments are needed it
can be discussed in Parliament and if needed minor amendments can be incorporated
in the bill and get it implemented. He is unlike Anna who wanted a strong
Lokpal in its true letter and spirit without introducing any changes as wished
and wanted by the govt. Team Anna was of the view that a diluted version of Lokpal
bill getting introduced and passed by the Parliament is tantamount to nothing because
there will be possibilities galore for those at the higher echelons as well as
those below their ranks escaping through the net misusing the provisions in the
govt bill. That was not acceptable to Team Anna, hence they stuck to their demand
for a Lokpal with teeth plugging all loopholes. Team Anna was not at all
willing to introduce any changes in the bill under any circumstances. But
ManMohan Singh led UPA govt was determined to proceed on the lines adopted by
them and UPA-2 govt too adopted an equally rigid stand and cared not to hold
any discussions with Team Anna. Finding lack of response from the part of
citizens who a year ago rallied behind Anna Hazaare in lakhs got disillusioned
with the Team primarily due to the lack of unity among its members and inner
wranglings within, each citizen retreated into his/her cocoon. They must have
thought that be it Anna or any such so-called social activist, he/she won’t stand
by them, when they needed him/her most. In the meanwhile the hydra of
corruption is spreading its tentacles with more vigour and intensity. Like Alan
Paton’s Novel ‘Cry, the beloved country’ out of helplessness and frustration,
the citizens too lamented over their fate sitting in their homes and must have
come to the conclusion that India is doomed forever and corruption has become a
way of life in India.
Baba Ramdev’s ultimatum of 72 hours to the UPA govt is likely
to reach deaf years as the arrogant mandarins in the corridors of power are
busy with some other business about which nobody outside has any idea.
Baba Ramdev is not considered a leader of the masses instead
a Yoga Guru and let him mind his own business. Govt might be thinking on those
lines. Furthermore the past incidents unfolded at the Ram Lila grounds are
weighing in govt’s calculations. The midnight crack-down by Delhi police under
the strict orders of the govt in which thousands were evacuated by adopting
brute force, a number of them badly injured, many were forcibly taken into
police custody and to cap it all a man of stature like Baba Ramdev wearing the
nightie somebody had given, jumped from the stage and melted in the crowd, but
was captured after two hours of intense search by the police and even reportedly
lathi-charged him. He too was forcibly arrested and later taken away to his far
away Ashram which actually tarnished his image. Clad in woman’s dress and
escaping incognito was most unbecoming a man like Baba Ramdev in the process he
was berating and belittling himself forcing the rest of the country laugh at
him. The midnight crackdown and brute force applied on the silent protesters
were reprehensible and even the court reportedly took notice of it and blamed
the leaders who ordered the police to manhandle non-violent protestors.
Apart from getting the Lokpal Bill passed by Parliament and
his oft-repeated demand is to bring back the black money stashed abroad. Then
he wanted an autonomous CBI (now said to be under the command of PMO), a transparent
path to be undertaken in the selection of Comptroller and Audit General, Chief
Election Commissioner and Central Vigilance Commissioner who must function without
govt interference are some other major demands.
Anna Hazaare and his colleagues line of entering politics is
not at all Baba’s cup of tea. He repeatedly declares that his movement is
strictly apolitical and will be apolitical. Likewise he doesn’t consider the
offices of Prime Minister, President and Vice President free from corruption
and Anna taking up cudgels against these august offices is not to his liking.
In short, he has chosen a middle path without sticking to a
rigid path that was according to him Team Anna’s chosen path.
An Indian citizen aspires for an India devoid of corruption
and such evils like that and I think he/she is likely to take a wait and see
approach. Whether Baba Ramdev goes Anna’s way or not is that which baffles each
Indian citizen.
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