Understanding the Jan Lokpal movement and its implications: two videos
CENTER & ODISHA August 21st. 2011, 7:29pm.png)
The above two videos give me some understanding of the goal of this movement. While I have still not educated myself on the issue of the need of a Lokpal, let alone on which of the two bills (the govt Lokpal bill and the Jan Lokpal bill) is better in which points, I think there is a need to reform the political system in India.
I almost agree with Prashant Bhushan when he says that in the current system people mostly vote for parties. I will modify it slightly and say: in the current system people mostly vote for the parties and party icons. What this means is Sonia Gandhi or L. K. Advani or Naveen Patnaik decides who will be their party candidate some random place in Odisha.
I think if this movement grows further and is able to achieve some kind of a primary election system to decide on candidates from various parties in various seats then that would significantly improve the political system in India. If that happens, no longer Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi or L. K. Advani or Naveen Patnaik would be able to dictate their party candidates. That will allow more grassroots participation of democracy and tainted and/or corrupt people running for office will have a higher chance of getting eliminated before the final election. It will also reduce the stupid system that is being followed where by sons and daughters of politicians are automatically given huge advantages, and not only in terms of party tickets but even in terms of ministrial positions. (For example, the current ministers Jyotiraj Sindhia, Agatha Sangma, Kumari Selja, etc. come to mind.)
In addition the anti-defection amendment needs to be modified so that MPs can vote on bills based on their conscience and not just follow the diktat of the party bosses.
Perhaps the above two can be done through a "True Democracy Bill" or "People’s democracy Bill" that the Anna team will go after after the Lokpal bill is settled.
Coming back to the Lokpal bill, I think the timeline of 18 days is unreasonable. For such an important bill there should be more discussions and states need to be asked for their opinion. However, it should not be indefinitely delayed.
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August 21st, 2011 at 11:09 pm
sir,
you have no idea about janlokpal,ur a well wisher of odissa “APANA KUN SOBHA DEUNI”when you are saying that you done like some of the points
alredy 5 members of civil society has jointly drafted the janlokpal bill with the govt,we had been struggling since 2 months,how can you say that its not possible with in 12 days???
August 21st, 2011 at 11:13 pm
sir,
you have no idea about janlokpal,ur a well wisher of odissa “APANA KUN SOBHA DEUNIâ€when you are saying that you dont like some of the points and the tym shoud be extended
alredy 5 members of civil society have jointly drafted the janlokpal bill with the govt,we had been struggling since 2 months,how can you say that its not possible with in 12 days???
August 21st, 2011 at 11:18 pm
There is a mob mentality here. Have you read the bills. People are not reading and thinking for themselves. They are just going with the flow. This is dangerous. I have explained some of my objections. Tell me where you disagree with me.
August 21st, 2011 at 11:23 pm
There are alternatives to Govt.’s bill and Jan Lokpal bill.
See for example the one drafted by Aruna Roy and Co. http://kafila.org/2011/08/19/the-lokpal-ncpri-approach-the-right-to-differ/ . Aruna Roy was the main person behind RTI act. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_Information_Act,_2005 . My point is the movement is important for a “better democracy”. But insisting on “Jan Lokpal bill” is arrogance. There are a lot of smart, intelligent, well read and active people than the 5 who drafted Jan Lokpal. India is 1.2 billion+.
Why Jan Lokpal and not the one drafted by Aruna Roy and Co?
The movement should be a about an “Effective” Lokpal bill and beyond; measures that will make India a better democracy.
Not this ego-driven thing about just my bill, the “Jan Lokpal bill” and nothing else. The definition of arrogance is when someone or a small group (of 5) claim that they know everything, they are right and no one else can have better ideas.
India is in trouble because our masses, often the educated mass calling themselves civil society, don’t think for themselves; they just follow like a herd of sheep. Just ask your friends how many of them have read the Jan Lokpal bill, the govt bill, Aruna Rao and co’s bill and compared them and then decided that they should support the Jan Lokpal bill.
My guess will be very few in all of India have done that.
August 22nd, 2011 at 2:15 am
thank you sir for accepting my comments
from now onwords again we will work together for the devlopment of odissa
actually what i am saying is we should support a strong kanun and they had been discussing about janlokpal from 2 months
so in my point of view there should be a time limit,sir you are saying that 12 days is a very small period of time,than its ok but they should give a written assurance n paper that they are going to take some neccesary steps within “x” limit of time
August 22nd, 2011 at 4:15 am
Hello,
I strongly support the Jan lokpal movement. But giving a timeframe of 12/18 days for parliament to pass the bill is neither justified nor reasonable. This movement is getting momentum bcoz of the anger of the people against this govt for the huge scams (2G, CWG etc) happened recently and not that everybody understand what the bill is. The mistake this govt did is n’t continuing discussions with the civil society members. Even the govt should have invited more civil society members beyond Team Anna for discussions. And also should have done an all party meeting with feedbacks from state govts as well.
Only passage of this bill won’t end corruption but there’s a lot need to be done. But Jan lokpal is a first step towards tackling corruption and the bill must be passed after effective discussions in parliament, all other parties and state govts.
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:30 am
@Supratik Good to see you back here. Keep up with your good work for Rourkela. Rourkela needs more voices.