Enigmatic drama has ensued following the supposed "illegal" eviction of Baba Ramdev on national television these days. I guess it's a no-brainier for anyone sane and non-parochial to asses that at least the leadership of the congress is on the right track. The others may be saying the ideal things but they are the ones who corrupt the ideal situation and then doing what is ideal is non-idealist.
To put things in perspective, let's start from the beginning. Was the action against Ramdev justified? I think the answer is a yes without any qualifications. I think so because of the following. That he is a thug need not be proven. The guy and his aide Balakrishnan have a lot that is hidden from the general public. But let that be hidden. Legally these guys had sought permission to do a "yoga shivir" and were instead staging a political protest. Moreover, the gathering was ten times the number that was registered with the police. Now, this kind of a behaviour is not warranted in a civil society, that too in the national capital where a lapse of law and order could do immense damage to the country.
Forget even this for a moment. They continued the protest even after telling the government that they were satisfied and will call off the protest. Now, this is trying to stab one without a fault. What is the government supposed to do?. Moreover, Ramdev to save himself, hid behind women. What sort of a man is he? Terrorists hide amongst common citizens. If he were an activist or a satyagrahi, as he claims himself to he, he would have surrendered to the police like Bhagat Singh or Gandhi and not hid behind women like a coward.
And imagine the people who were staging the protest for democracy. Sadhvi Ritambara, is one who is accused with inciting the mob during the Babri Masjid demolition. An event which is perhaps the biggest blow to the soul of Indian democracy. And the sole culprits, BJP and the RSS are talking about democracy.
Look at Ramadev more closely now. He and his aide produce un-certified and un-tested medicines for profit. Balakrishnan allegedly hold three passports. He is also a Nepali citizen. And both of them have illegally grabbed hectares of rural land for ashrams and yoga shivirs, typical of modern day sadhus and such thugs. The ED is after them and my hunch is that it is a tactical move by the congress to dig up their pasts and put them behind bars.
Who else? Sushma Swaraj. Has she forgotten the drama and ruckus that she created when Sonia Gandhi was elected to become the prime minister. Vowing to shave her head and create impediments for the leader of the majority party who holds a valid Indian citizenship is very democratic and today she talks about democracy? Such hypocritical behaviour can only come from someone like her who perhaps uses the same shampoo as Jayati Ghosh.
Mulayam Singh Yadav. How much of black money have you got stashed in the Swiss bank dude? It's hilarious. It's a drama going on there.
But overall, the prime minister is perhaps as white as his clothes. He saved the country when we were at the verge of bankruptcy and he's forcing his ministers to divulge details of their assets and divest from any benefits they have from the government. How more un-corrupt has anyone been in the recent past in the Indian politics? I guess no one. And there are people who themselves have unaccountable assets hurling everything at him in the name of corruption. What a shame! Moreover, the amount of efforts and steps taken by the present government against corruption - be it the RTI Act, the UID cards, linking them with the PDS system, putting top CEOs into jail - has been done by no government in the past. So, I guess full marks to the UPA.
I never expected you to take this stand.
ReplyDeleteA bold stand. Hats off to you!
That being said, the reference to Jayati Ghosh was uncalled for.
Sharan
Sharan the reference to Jayati Ghosh is because I find a lot of her arguments defies everything even remotely associated with "LOGIC". So I borrowed what PS says always... :)
ReplyDeleteStarting from the end, if you think the government is doing enough to stop corruption, I am not sure why I have still not heard any major actions taken or monies recovered on the Commonwealth corruption scandal. Commomwealth could have been such a rich source of future earnings, but the Government miserably failed to encash the opportunity because of unchecked corruption.
ReplyDeleteI believe corruption is one of the biggest menaces in India, but unlike poverty or illiteracy, it is not being talked about (probably because nobody dares to raise the issue because of a fear of having a scarred past). You talk about Baba Ramdev himself being corrupt, but my point is he has dared to raise his voice against it, which gives him more credibility than those who have done anything about it ever.
Let's face it, the Indian black money that Swiss banks have cannot be debated is huge, and any peaceful protest (may not be legal as per law books, but was certainly peaceful) should not be demolished in an undemocratic way as in this case. You talk about numbers more than authorised to camp, com'mon you are fighting against the government, who listens to one man speaking until it is thousands who are ready to echo with him? I would ignore such anomalies for the bigger cause of what the awareness will achieve as a result.
Baba Ramdev did not start this protest with any affiliation to any political party, and neither is he asking only Congress leaders to bring their money back. The law will apply to all politicians whosoever (incl Mulayam Singh Yadav as you mentioned).
I am not aware (I followed the news here) when the government made a formal statement to the media saying that the demands were agreed in full and the protest should be stopped. Do not go by the letters leaked into media or anything, no govt statement was issued as far as I am concerned to call off the protest.
I agree that Manmohan Singh may be as white as his clothes, but there is no doubt that his statements on issues are too late and too weak. India is being watched by the world, so let's get out acts right. We have not subscribed to totalitarianism yet, so let's support people who dare to democratically raise issues and concerns for the betterment of the country instead of powerfully crushing voices in the middle of the night.
First things first. I am not saying that the government has done enough for corruption. All I am saying is that this is a "good" government that we have in out times. I do not know if you support people like Uma Bharati and Sushma Swaraj. But no one else gave ever gave you the RTI, NREGA, UID or even talked about Lokpal. So let's have some faith in the government and let's not malign them.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I will not trust Dawood Ibrahim if he starts raising his voice against terrorism. It's a joke.
Yes, openly Baba Ram did not support any political party but we all saw who all shared the stage with him and then it does not require any intelligence to gauge the motives - i.e. malign the UPA.
Third, I do not support any "illegal" gathering specially when the government is not stopping any "legal" protests. So was it for Anna Hazare or someone else. And the Supreme Court has taken note of that. Let the judgement come and I wont have to say anything else other than the fact in a "civil" society you will have to follow the Law or things will go bizzare.
And yes there was an agreement between the government and Ramadev that he will stop the "illegal" business in Hotel Claridges. Kapil Sibal even held a press conference. Check any Indian news website you'll get it.
About commonwealth. See we are inherently a corrupt society. All of us give and take bribes in some form or the other. And people who organized commonwealth came out of this very "civil" society. Why blame the government? For the government's part, Ex-ante you can't take any action. If you do too much during the event, that may jeopardize the whole situation. And ex-post all the culprits are in jail and are being prosecuted. What else do you want? Remember, Kalmadi is an Air-Force guy. If even the armed forces become so corrupt, how do you manage. The PM himself can't do anything. I know his grandson personally. The man just sleeps 3 hours a day at this age. Even me and you don't work so much.
I do not think that the PM is weak. It may appear but judge the man by his actions. Remember 1991. He got us that loan on his own reputation. World Bank would never have agreed. You realize the need for new energy resources in India? This man got the deal with the US on terms mostly favourable to India! Which Indian prime minister ever got a one-sided bargain? This man went into pakistan and snubbed the pak prime minister in front of his own media. So no, he is not weak. Give his actions some time. It's taking time because we have a democracy and not a totalitarianism.
As far as the Lokpal bill is concerned. I do not think the so called members of the civil society understand a democratic process. You can watch Sibal's interview with Barkha Dutta and understand that the present draft is a very good one. And the way to bring about a change is to fight elections and get into the parliament and then form a bill. Otherwise, even I can sit on a hunger strike from tomorrow and ask for a Mercedes. That's not fair. The government has heard them, the opposition and everyone. Now the parliament has to debate. Not outside it right. Making of a bill is a very complex process.
Yes our black money is in Swiss bank and it needs to be got back. All agree to it. Tell me a way in which that can easily happen. If I could prove that you have money in swiss bank even then it would have been difficult. Here you do not only know who has an account there. You are a banker. So tell us a solution is there is. What's the point of shouting on streets and holding hunger strikes. No where in the world are hunger strikes used to make bills. Gandhiji went on hunger strikes to get his democratic rights. Here whose democratic right is being taken? Every one is free to contest elections.