Anna Hazare And Parliamentary Democracy

the much touted people’s victory following the fast of the veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare can at best be called a pyrrhic one, far removed from the associated imaginative euphoria. The unanimous “Sense of the House” Resolution of the Parliament has only offered a timely face-saving opportunity to the Civil Society to call off the Fast. The entire political class was too clever to not to seize the moment, ignoring the groundswell of public opinion against them. Ironically, the Congress party too emerged with minimum injury from the Hazare episode which was feared to tear down UPA2. Much to their consternation, the BJP and the left too parties could not cash in on much. Though the Hazare effect caught the imagination of the entire republic, the lack of organisation prevented Anna Team from turning the screw on the government. Admittedly, the fast has indisputably created an unprecedented awareness among the common people, but this is no victory for the common man as the parliamentarians still hold the key for a forceful legislation on the contentious subject. The complex and onerous Lokpal Bill is not expected to have a smooth sailing because of the constitutional hurdles and the wide-ranging frame work the legislation demands in the envisaged form and content. All the three demands agreed in principle could be easily accepted by the political class they are unlikely to be affected. The lone silver line in the whole episode is the emphatic victory of the non-violence over violence prevalent in some countries reeling under popular uprising. Good riddance! The political class cleverly demonstrated a rare unity in unitedly seeking to cash in from the popular movement for a stronger Lokpal Bill. Who emerged stronger after the eleven day long fast will become clear only in the future when Lokpal becomes a reality after a long journey of 42 years? From another angle, the media has not covered itself with glory as it was seen to taking sides in Hazare episode even while one is compelled to acknowledging its appreciable role in mobilizing popular support for the civil society. The partisan report marked for ad nauseum media hype was showing very badly.