Editorial
Message from Anna's movement
A triumph for democracy and civic society
The end of the 12-day hunger strike of India's anti-corruption campaigner, Anna Hazare, signifies a triumph for Indian democracy and the civic society movement. It brought the parliament, political parties and civil society on to the same page, with the people as the cardinal catalytic factor. Where previously politicians had claimed that Hazare's movement ignored, marginalised and, indeed, held parliament hostage by whipping up public sentiment, they have now accepted that the people's voices must be heard and acted upon.
In many democracies the people's representatives soon after elections become de-linked from the very roots of their power -- the people -- Hazare's movement comes as a timely alert to India's leaders, pulling them out of their stupor and giving them a reality check. The government appears to have agreed to the demand that even the prime minister's office and CBI would be brought under the ombudsman's jurisdiction, let alone ombudsmen for the states and at the centre together with adoption of people's charter in government offices. The episode has demonstrated the maturity of Indian politics and the consensual approach adopted by the ruling and opposition parties in embracing Hazare's cause is exemplary.
In Bangladesh, too, corruption is a major concern. The safeguards against it are weak, with the instrument to fight against it, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), itself made toothless. Many of our ministers and MPs become alienated from the people halfway through the tenure of the parliament. Unless there is some mechanism for them to realise their growing hiatus with the people their purpose as elected representatives is lost. As for any pro-people dynamics between the ruling and opposition parties, the less said the better. Thus the responsibility seems to fall on our civic society to not only come forward to lead a movement against corruption, but also to make our leaders and politicians aware of the public pulse overall. And there is much to be learnt from the message of Anna Hazare's movement.
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