'Civil Society' faces the heat
The Lokpal Committee, support for which Anna Hazare had a gathered so effectively by convincing Indians that this was a new 'satyagraha', was rocked by scams and allegations all week long.
The big matter this week was the mysterious CD which allegedly contained a conversation between Shanti Bhusan, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh where Bhusan senior assured them that Bhusan junior could bribe a judge to favour the case on their side.
Amar Singh and Mulayam Sigh Yadav are party to several corruption scams and no is surprised that they are involved. But the CD certainly rocked the Lokpal Bill committee. The authenticity of the CD is still in doubt but it doesn't really matter. What is important was the response that 'Civil Society' gave for these allegations.
It was not a good response.
Hazare wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi demanding that she rein in her ministers (does Hazare need her to control her ministers so that he can campaign effectively?) and the rest of the committee gave a loud press conference were they railed against those who questioned their integrity. And Justice Santosh Hegde meanwhile said he was so heartbroken he would quit.
This is a democracy with a free press. If you are free to fast, you must also be ready to accept that you will also be subjected to the same intense scrutiny as the Government.
It's like entering a big furnace. There is space enough for everyone. Let us hope, for the sake of the millions of expectant Indians, that the Lokpal Committee will emerge from this fire as clean as they claimed they were when they got into it.
Image: Anna Hazare raises slogans with Kiran Bedi after breaking his fast-unto-death.
Split widens over charges on anti-graft panel
Hazare's approach authoritarian, flawed: Mahesh Bhatt
Text: Sify News Desk
Images: PTI/ AP
The Lokpal Committee, support for which Anna Hazare had a gathered so effectively by convincing Indians that this was a new 'satyagraha', was rocked by scams and allegations all week long.
The big matter this week was the mysterious CD which allegedly contained a conversation between Shanti Bhusan, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh where Bhusan senior assured them that Bhusan junior could bribe a judge to favour the case on their side.
Amar Singh and Mulayam Sigh Yadav are party to several corruption scams and no is surprised that they are involved. But the CD certainly rocked the Lokpal Bill committee. The authenticity of the CD is still in doubt but it doesn't really matter. What is important was the response that 'Civil Society' gave for these allegations.
It was not a good response.
Hazare wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi demanding that she rein in her ministers (does Hazare need her to control her ministers so that he can campaign effectively?) and the rest of the committee gave a loud press conference were they railed against those who questioned their integrity. And Justice Santosh Hegde meanwhile said he was so heartbroken he would quit.
This is a democracy with a free press. If you are free to fast, you must also be ready to accept that you will also be subjected to the same intense scrutiny as the Government.
It's like entering a big furnace. There is space enough for everyone. Let us hope, for the sake of the millions of expectant Indians, that the Lokpal Committee will emerge from this fire as clean as they claimed they were when they got into it.
Image: Anna Hazare raises slogans with Kiran Bedi after breaking his fast-unto-death.
Split widens over charges on anti-graft panel
Hazare's approach authoritarian, flawed: Mahesh Bhatt
Text: Sify News Desk
Images: PTI/ AP
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