Hazare's demand is not Gandhian!
Photo: AP
Veteran Indian social activist Anna Hazare termed his anti-corruption campaign as the second freedom struggle of India. Hazare's attire, made of white homespun cotton, reminds us of Mahatma Gandhi, who led the 'Quit India' movement against the British rule in 1942. Hazare also said that after ensuring the institution of a strong Lokpal (ombudsman) with its own independent investigative team, the next fight will be for the “Right to Reject” provision which will ensure that the corrupt MPs will not get entry into the “sacred temple of democracy”. However, it is undeniable that such a move would be tantamount to creating a separate, unelected executive that is not accountable to parliament or the Indian people. Famous Indian writer Arundhati Roy said that the Jan Lokpal Bill, which she said nobody had read, was totally a non-Gandhian piece of legislation and it would concentrate power in the hands of a few. Let us watch and learn how India finds out effective solution to its crisis because Bangladesh is also suffering from deep-rooted corruption.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments