Currently Anna Typhoon is blowing across the nation in its severest form. Anna effect is so strong at the moment in the country that it seems to have overwhelmed even severest of its critics. Those, who earlier considered Anna phenomenon to be against the constitution, spirit of parliamentary democracy,have made complete U-turns and now seem to be heaping praise on Anna and are willing to support the cause of his movement. These critics include some of the very well known intellectuals, former additional/solicitor generals of India, jurists, senior journalists etc. A very large section of artists comprising of some of the very well known personalities of the film industry has been making beeline for Anna’s Lokpal .Even the Jurists don’t seem to find anything wrong with the insistence of Anna on their version of Lokpal while Govt. version of the Bill is already with standing committee of Parliament. A leading constitutional expert has contended Govt’s view on the issue that “parliament is supreme over the people”. In fact, according to him, on the contrary, since “WE THE PEOPLE” comes before ”PARLIAMENT” in the Constitution of India and hence People of India have supremacy over the parliament and hence views of people expressed through Anna Hazare can’t be considered to be subordinate to the views of the parliament. In fact, this typhoon seems to be overwhelming people across the border also. A section of people in Pakistan being very impressed with Anna movement aspire somebody from them to emerge like Anna and lead a similar movement in their corruption ridden country also. As the malaise of corruption is being experienced in other parts of the world also, media and certain sections of the society in these countries are watching Anna movement with great curiosity and interest so that if need be they may copy a leaf or two out of Anna’s Book and use the same to get rid of the malaise from their countries also.
If the frenzy of Anna movement is catching up with other sections of the society, how the political class, even though likely to be impacted most, whenever Lokpal Bill is passed by the parliament, would have remained untouched by it. A leading Parliamentarian, from the national capital region, of the ruling party has criticized Delhi Police for disallowing a peaceful and democratic protest of Anna. A young Loksabha MP of BJP has shown his willingness to present Janlokpal Bill of Anna as a Private bill in Parliament.A similar interest has been shown by an Independent MP from Rajya Sabha also. A group of nine non-congress /non-NDA political parties has called for their all-India protest on 23rd August on the issue and are likely to seek withdrawal of Govt. Lokpal Bill from standing committee.Govt, which was earlier completely blind to Anna Phenomenon, however seems to have been forced to open their eyes, even though a little bit only, by the tumultuous support for Anna across the nation. Now, they are keying up for the climb down; however, before that they may look for a suitable way out as their face saving. Even though they are making a last -ditch effort to put the spanners to Anna’s Janlokpal through their coterie of so called Civil Society Activists and NGOs by inviting views from People, Civil Society Activists and NGOs on Lokpal Bill; however considering the general mood of the nation, they have reconciled to the fact that willy-nilly, they may have to accommodate majority of the provisions of Anna’s Janlokpal.
Now, Given the above scenario, it would be curious to watch the response of BJP on Lokpal Bill. While, the Govt and Anna Team were engaged in their verbal duel on provisions of Lokapal, BJP was gloating over the suffering and embarrassment of the Govt over the whole issue. Although, earlier BJP would criticize the Govt. for their imperious and supercilious ways to deal with Anna Team on drafting of Lokpal Bill; however,BJP would keep all its cards close to its chest on the contending provisions of the Bill. Whenever asked to clarify its stand on contending provisions of the Bill, it would always say that since Govt didn’t involve them while drafting the Bill, it may not like to say anything on it at drafting stage. It would express its views only when the bill was presented in the parliament. Well, as a political party, they couldn’t be blamed for a political strategy which could help embarrass their principal political adversary and gain maximum political mileage out of the situation. However, they were entitled to this luxury only to a limited period and now this period seems to be expiring and now they must spell out their stand on the issue very explicitly. Now, they can’t take the cover of the inaction of the govt. any longer. Given the general mood of the nation, political class can’t procrastinate the bill any longer. Overwhelming mood of the nation is in favour of stronger lokpal bill and passing of that bill without any more delay. Also, overwhelming opinion of the people is cynical about the intention of political class cutting across the party lines. Generally, people seem to believe that all political parties including BJP are scared of strong Lokpal Bill, because once it is implemented, it would affect them most and hence ultimately all of them would agree to disagree on stronger version of the Bill of Anna Team.
Given the above perception of the people about the entire political class, BJP as a political party need to act honest and fast on the issue. One thing is sure that it can’t help congress Keep the Lokpal bill hanging fire(already for 42 years now)for any longer and also it knows that Congress is not interested in Strong lokpal bill and hence it need to rise to the occasion and play a more pro-active, positive and honest role on the issue.
Now, what they may do? In case, their Young MP, wants to introduce the Janlokpal Bill in the parliament, let it be presented, discussed and debated by the parliament. Not necessarily, they need to accept all the provisions of Janlokpal Bill of Anna. They may make an honest assessment of different provisions of the bill regarding their efficacy to help curtail corruption effectively in keeping with the mood of the people of the nation. They may accept those provisions of Janlopal, which they may find completely acceptable. If they find certain provisions of Janlokpal to be contentious, they may make an honest assessment of them and suggest amendments to the same.
What could be the contentious provisions of Janlokpal and what may be the response of the BJP on the same? Well, given the general debate going on the various provisions of the bill for some time, it’s not very difficult to guess them. These contending provisions may be mainly related to bringing the office of PM, conduct of MPs in Parliament, Judiciary and lower bureaucracy under the purview of Lokpal.
Now, so far as office of PM is concerned, BJP has already given sufficient hint publically that they want office of PM to be brought under the ambit of PM. Regarding inclusion of lower bureaucracy also, they can’t have any big dilemma and hence may suggest inclusion of lower bureaucracy also under the ambit of lokpal, as suggested by Janlokpal. About conduct of MPs in Parliament, it is generally speculated that BJP like most of other political parties may like to have unfettered freedom to be enjoyed by the MPs. This may be a sensitive issue given the conflicting aspirations of the MPs to continue to enjoy unfettered Freedom and at the same time overwhelming mood of the nation to fetter freedom of MPs regarding their conduct in parliament. Regarding this provision also, BJP may overcome the dilemma by putting a reasonable restriction related to their conduct in parliament motivated by vested interests, mainly commercial gains. Inclusion of judiciary may again be a ticklish issue. In fact, inclusion of Judiciary doesn’t find overwhelming support from either political parties or even from several eminent personalities from different walks of life. In fact one of the important members of Janlokpal Panel has also expressed his reservation on the issue. However, considering the rampant corruption being reported especially at lower level of judicilary and general complaint and anger of people about the same, it may suggest inclusion of lower level judiciary under the purview of lokpal and let some other bill, as reportedly being worked out by the Govt, may tackle the corruption of higher level judiciary in future.
In a nutshell, BJP must respond to the general mood of the nation against the corruption by acting fast and playing a proactive, positive and honest role on the issue. This is a historical moment for them and they must act as per the mood of the nation. They should know that overwhelming sections of the society and especially the middle class, the backbone of the support base of the BJP, are in favour of enacting a strong lokpal bill at the earliest and hence it is not only in the interest of the nation but also in their interest to respond to this historic occasion with all sincerity, honesty and without any delay. Any delay or equivocation on the issue at this point of time may not only deny them opportunity to come back to power but may relegate them further. They should not forget the fact that Anna movement, which has stirred the nation and which has related to strong aspirations of people to fight against the corruption, may create a possibility for a third alternative for the people, if political parties, especially BJP, don’t act fast and as per the mood of the nation.
Will BJP rise to the occasion? It must, if not for the nation, at least for its own survival and long term interest.
