The Fight Against Corruption
A protestor at the Dandi March in Bandra earlier this month. Photo: Kainaz Amaria.
Now that noted social activist Anna Hazare has gone on a fast until death, expect to read and hear a lot more about India Against Corruption and the Jan Lokpal Bill. Just how are the three related? Here’s a quick primer:
What is India Against Corruption?
India Against Corruption is the umbrella group of people and organisations who have come together nationwide to collectively demand the enactment of the Jan Lokpal Bill. It includes social activist Anna Hazare, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, yoga guru Baba Ramdev, Arya Samaj leader Swami Agnivesh and the Archbishop of Delhi, Vincent M. Concessao. In Mumbai, groups involved include the Bombay Catholic Sabha, the Jagrut Nagrik Manch, Byculla-based NGO Sadbhavana Sangh, the H-West Federation of Citizens from Bandra, and the Juhu Citizens Welfare Association.
What is the Jan Lokpal Bill?
Following the revelation of a series of scams over the last year–the Commonwealth Games scam, the Adarsh Housing Society scam, the 2G Spectrum scam–involving prominent members of the central and state governments, former Supreme Court judge Santosh Hedge, prominent New Delhi lawyer Prashant Bhushan and Right to Information activist Arvind Kejriwal drafted an anti-corruption bill in January they called the Jan Lokpal. The bill would empower a committee equally made up of citizens and representatives from the government to file First Information Reports and prosecute corrupt officials, politicians and even judges. The bill stipulates that corruption cases be investigated within a year, and then tried and closed within the following year. According to the bill, if found guilty, the corrupt officer should not only be imprisoned but the money received by him should also be recovered. “While the Right To Information Act will get you the information, the Jan Lokpal Bill will prosecute the errant and corrupt officer or politician,” said Mayank Gandhi, the Maharashtra co-ordinator of India Against Corruption. “It’s a sequel to the RTI, where you come to know things but can’t do anything about them.”
How is it different from the Lokpal Bill?
Different versions of the government’s own anti-corruption bill, the Lokpal Bill have been introduced and rejected by the Centre over the last 42 years. The government started discussing a new version of the bill following the recent spate of scams. However, IAC says that in its present form the Lokpal Bill will be an ineffective tool to fight corruption on a number of grounds, which they have outlined on their website. For instance, under the government’s bill, the Lokpal committee will not be empowered to receive complaints from the general public and will have to file their grievances with the speaker of the Lok Sabha or chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. Complaints will then have to be forwarded to the Lokpal for further investigation, which IAC says is a mechanism with much scope for misuse by the ruling party. In essence, the Lokpal Bill restricts the role of the Lokpal to that of an advisory committee.
Why has Anna Hazare decided to fast until death?
The people behind IAC feel that thus far, the government has not been serious about the implementation of the Jan Lokpal Bill. “When the Prime Minister was met on March 7, he said that considering Parliament is on, [and that] there are elections that are slated to get over on May 13, the government will take this up only after May 13,” said Gandhi. “Then, they said the [Lokpal] committee will consist of nine ministers. It was felt by many, including Anna Hazare, that the people whom we are sure are corrupt are the same people making up the committee. So we asked the government that the committee should consist of 50 per cent of members of civil society and 50 per cent from the government. [But] The government did not think that bringing in people into the drafting of the bill is a good idea, which is a position we do not accept.” Hazare thus decided to go on a fast until death, until the government agrees to the enactment of the Jan Lokpal Bill. After Hazare began his fast on Tuesday, April 5, at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the government responded by saying that a panel headed by defence minister A. K. Anthony has already been constituted to look into the bill. Hazare has, however, dismissed this, specifically calling out the inclusion of Sharad Pawar, “known for possessing large amounts of land in Maharashtra”, in the panel.
What next?
If the government has not taken any action by Tuesday April 12, IAC plans to stage a Jail Bharo Andolan. (This date was changed on Friday to Wednesday, April 13.) In Mumbai, they plan to stop government officers from going to work at Mantralaya and will request the police to arrest them (the protestors that is). The movement was described at the “Dandi March”, organised by IAC two Sundays ago, as the nation’s “Second Freedom Struggle”.
What you can do?
“First, you need to be aware,” said 23-year-old Ruben Mascarenhas, who helped organise the Dandi March and is one of the most active of co-ordinators of IAC in Mumbai. Apart from a fairly comprehensive website, IAC maintains reasonably active Facebook and Twitter accounts that provide real-time updates of country-wide activities and links to articles related to the ongoing anti-corruption movement. If you want to get directly involved with the IAC, Gandhi said that it has a range of activities that volunteers can contribute to, from “distributing pamphlets” to “sitting on a fast”. The bigger struggle, however, is one we each face in our daily lives, in resisting the temptation to bribe a traffic cop or government clerk. “Human beings respond to incentives,” said Mascarenhas. “Ten per cent of the people will always do good, ten per cent will always do bad. Eighty per cent of the people will follow the ten per cent who are being rewarded.” The Jan Lokpal Bill, IAC says, seeks to ensure that corruption is not rewarded through inaction but instead, punished through the swift implementation of justice.
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Until and unless there is stop for earnings, the corruption will go on. What is the wealth required for an individual or a family (consisting of wife and husband) to lead a luxurious life in his retired period should be specified by the Government. Every one knows that while coming into this world we have not brought any thing at the same time we can not any thing from this world while going. But why this corruption and accumulation of wealth. It is only for your future. Once your future is secured with a decent living, perhaps no one will be greedy to earn what is not required. With out putting a stop for your earnings, no law can help to control or eradicate the CORRUPTION.
dear frens,
please support annaji by keeping fast on 16.aug and stop shopping or spending till annaji breaks his fast,like this you can reduce demand,curb inflation,leave govt with lesser revenue to fill their pockets,mnc can get hit in their products,they will pressure govt, as 100 million+ indian netizen who r hnw or upper class have power to run the country,those are the real engines of poor nation of 80 crore+ indians,let us all raise our voice in silent way & say no to govt policies which favour the corrupt people,yeh desh hai to hum hai warna hum kuch bhi nai,jaihind happy independence day in advance,
The corruption has no face or religion or name .Corruption goes on increasing as govt fails to punish the culprits.All cases big or small should be completed within six months. Second thing is not enforcing existing laws by govt officials. My gokul accord co-op hsg soc thakur complex kandivali east mumbai office bearers are carring one core rs major repair work without m20 bond.They are in office for last two years and have given assurance in AGM that they have given bond. On doubt I used RTI and got minformation that they have not given bond.On this I had used RTI to ask dy reg W/S for action taken report but no reply .The govt says as per law the officebearers have to give bond within 45 days of resuming office . Can we stop corruption if govt takes Kambakaran sleep.Let Register issue showcause notice to all defaulting societies and take action as per law .
People of India have been made SLAVE by the Government Servants, Public Servants, Public Representatives, Political Parties, Ministers, Police, Judges, Arbitrators, Members of Grievances Cells.
All most all the Government Servants, Public Servants, Public Representatives, Political Parties, Ministers, Police, Judges, Arbitrators, Members of Grievances Cells, Members of Government Committees & Commissions are making SLAVE to the people of India by wrong doing at every moment. By harassing & exploiting, by not giving justice within 6 months, by delaying & lingering, by creating the fear of terror, criminals & under world people, by telling lies every moment, by misleading, misguiding & misrepresenting, by diverting the attention of the people, by molding and twisting the matter, by ignoring and hiding the facts all, these monsters making the people of India SLAVE. Behaviour, attitude, language, tone, system of work etc of the Government Servants and Police reflect the character of the government.
Corruption at grass root level must be abolished immediately. It is a matter of great shame on the part of the Government, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister that they have not taken any initiative. The Central and State Governments are responsible for all types of corruption at each level. They are involved in the corruption. They are spreading, encouraging and supporting corruption. All most all the Government Servants, Public Servants, Public Representatives, Political Parties, Ministers, Police, Judges, Arbitrators, Members of Grievances Cells, Members of Government Committees & Commissions are made corrupt and criminal since last 45 years by the Congress Party. They save and protect each other. There is syndicate and collusion between them. All of them are Criminals, Gunda and Mavali. They are misusing Powers and Positions at every moment. They always violate Laws and Rules. They always speak lies. They always mislead people and nation. They always misrepresent. They believe them as Laws and Rules by themselves. They ignore, avoid, reject and dismiss the complaints of Poor and Middle Class people.
The main Power Houses of Corruption, Crimes, Evils, Vices and destructive, negative, mean, cheap and dirty politics are the Offices of Congress Party and its alliance, Office of the Prime Minister and Offices of all Ministries. From all these power houses, the power/current of Corruption, Crimes, Evils, Vices and destructive, negative, mean, cheap and dirty politics is supplied to all authorities, departments of the government, Judiciary, Police and all Commissions. This is a true and naked fact. Shri Anna Hazare and all his associates must keep this reality in mind while preparing the Jan Lok Pal Bill. Corruption, Crimes, Evils, Vices and destructive, negative, mean, cheap and dirty politics exist in the country only due to Congress and its alliance. They are sold in the hands of criminals, mafias, anti-national elements, Rich People, Corporate, Under World People, ISI, Pakistan, Arab Countries, USA and European Countries. There is all-round total mess at each level in the country done by Congress Party. Congress wants to retain Power at all cost so that their all wrong doings of last 45 years do not come on the surface. They use all negative tactics to destabilise non Congress Governments. Congress has been Destroying and deteriorating the country therefore the existence of Congress Party is very dangerous and most harmful for the nation and people of India.
PM and Judges are not God. They are only human beings. In the eyes of Law all are equal. Those who have Powers and Positions are most responsible. They are given powers and positions only and only for the betterment of the people and nation. In this most corrupt India, all the monsters are misusing Powers and Positions. All the time they are lieing and misleading the nation. Therefore all of them must be killed on the spot along with their all family members and their properties must be seized. They are the most wicked and vicious people. In Jan Lokpal Bill, PM and judges must be included because they are only human being like you and me and nothing else. There is only setting and fixing in the Courts. The culprits, frauds, criminals, mafias, anti-national elements, Rich people and Corporate appoint the lawyer who has direct link, contact with the Judges, Arbitrators and Members of Grievances Cells. The judges have their own agents (lawyers) to bring them cases. The views, opinions and observations of Judges, Arbitrators and Members of Grievances Cells are always in all most all cases are corrupt and based on false, fabricated, baseless, misleading, full of lies and full of false information applications, replies, arguments and defences of the culprits, frauds, criminals, mafias, anti-national elements, Rich people and Corporate. They always ignore the facts and relevant documents. They give corrupt judgment as they know that “Go for Appeal” is the main source of corrupt income. All most all the Government Servants, Public Servants, Public Representatives, Political Parties, Ministers, Police, Judges, Arbitrators, Members of Grievances Cells, Members of Government Committees & Commissions are always sold in the hands of culprits, frauds, criminals, mafias, anti-national elements, Rich people and Corporate because only these people are required to manage corrupt people. There is no moral and ethics in these people. People now cannot tolerate or take it granted even for a moment to corrupt people and corrupt and rotten systems. People do not want to listen any excuse. People do not want any delay and lingering. In each and every matter/case/complaint, people want final Judgment only within 3 to 6 months time only on the basis of facts and relevant documents otherwise people will oppose, reject and boycott the whole Judiciary. What steps and guidelines the government will be going to announce immediately to abolish corruption at grass root level, keeping in mind all dirt and vices in the systems?
Almost all Government and Public Servants and Police behave like criminals, gundas and mavalis. They always speak lie. They always mislead, misguide and misrepresent. They believe that they are laws and rules by themselves and accordingly they mould the case/complaint/matter in their own way and give wrong judgment/decision. They always misuse their powers and positions. They always take laws in hands. They always violate laws, rules, regulations and bye-laws. They always delay and linger the matter. They always involve innocent into false cases. They always harass and exploit the people. They have made poor and middle class people slave. They have created situations that no one even at higher level gets interest into the complaints of poor and middle class people. People are moved from one person to other person or from one department to other department for the years and due to this only there are more and more cases in the courts every day. Since last 45 years people are suffering from this decease which is worst than CANCER. Since last 45 years the concerned Governments and Opposition Parties have been well aware of these facts but as all of them are participating and involved in corruption and all of them are responsible to the people and nation. In such situation each and every people has every right to take law in the hand and burn these people alive as they are the germs of cancer/white cells. These germs must only be burnt or killed. PM and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi must give reply to the nation immediately in this matter. Because for all consequences PM and the Government will be held responsible.
I STRONGLY SUGGEST WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW THAT WE ALL MOUNT OUR ASSES (read donkeys) AND CHARGE ON PLUNGERS IN HAND.
DON QUIOTIE could DO IT WHY NOT US .I TOO AM ANNA!!!
I think India’s corruption will end when each one of us is willing to NOT bribe anyone in our daily affairs. Whether it’s the cop who pulls us over, the ticket checker on trains, or the officer who is in charge of admissions.
We keep feeding them, they keep taking. The cycle will continue.
Bills don’t cure problems, people do.
Though I was very happy that finally somebody has raised voice against corruption, I have doubts that this will erase corruption, because it is in each & every field. I want to give one example. We are ourselves fighting corruption here in mumbai. We also want to be heard. We want support in our fight. we want some well known personality like Anna Hazare to fight on our behalf. Is there anyone who will support us? Is there anyone who can ask questions to concerned ministers, the chief minister, RBI governer on our behalf ? Please someone come forward and help us.
Most of the communities in India (such as Bengali), are succumbed in ‘Culture of Poverty’(a theory introduced by an American anthropologist Oscar Lewis), irrespective of class or economic strata, lives in pavement or apartment. Nobody is at all ashamed of the deep-rooted corruption, decaying general quality of life, worst Politico-administrative system, weak mother language, continuous absorption of common space (mental as well as physical, both). We are becoming fathers & mothers only by self-procreation, mindlessly & blindfold. Simply depriving their(the children) fundamental rights of a decent, caring society, fearless & dignified living. Do not ever look for any other positive alternative behaviour (values) to perform human way of parenthood, i.e. deliberately co-parenting of those children those are born out of ignorance, real poverty. All of us are being driven only by the very animal instinct. If the Bengali people ever be able to bring that genuine freedom (from vicious cycle of ‘poverty’) in their own life/attitude, involve themselves in ‘Production of Space’(Henri Lefebvre), at least initiate a movement by heart, decent & dedicated Politics will definitely come up.
- Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay, 16/4, Girish Banerjee Lane, Howrah-711101, India.
I find this whole thing hilarious. It’s just another example of Indians jumping onto the latest bandwagon.
INDIA CORRUPT? NO SH*T!!! Where have you been for the last 60 years while all this has been going down.
While Hazare is to be admired the rest of these goons in badges and celebs waving flags around are just in it for attention.
Get Real.
Thanks Amit!!
I AM ANNA Hazare !!!! You should be too.!!! LETS BE HEARD SO THAT OUR POLITICAL MASTERS REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE LOST THE PLOT !!!! NO more WHITE Unicorns only DONKEKY WITH ATTACHED PLUNGERS. let it START now!!!
I think what is happening is REFRESHING and TOO LONG OVERDUE. This is shit( corruption) that we put up with, and at times start treating as the norm, and more often than not propigate. By being the GIVERS (be it out of frustration, compliance or not giving a dam). It is a spark at best, but out of this if everyone of us out there has an iota of rationality,ethics or simply an inner voice that sometimes whispers it is not impossible for it to turn into a cleansing fire. A Fire with great scio-political implications. What this simple old fragile man who has is a heart like a Zeplin and a far reaching vision that makes us all feel like blind mice scurrying along the walls of political power, is doing is what everyone of us should have done…
He is steady fast ridding on a donkey with a plunger on ints head , instead of a white unicorn, yet that plunger is required to empty this countrys political & burocratic pots and that donkeys willpower to ply on through every burocratic baracade ….. I AM Anna Hazare!!!!!!!! YOU SHOULD BE TOO!!! NO MORE APATHY!!!
Fast to show solidarity?? that is such bullcrap. instead stop bribing the guys to get a gas connection, stop bribing ppl to get your ration card, stop bribing the traffic cop who caught you for jumping a red light, dont bribe someone to get a license to start a business. Do that and you would’ve shown your solidarity and wouldve eaten heartily!
Its with a very sad heart we have to fight our own people againist our own crimes. Hope we all survive and end up better.
Thanks for the comprehensive update. Understood exactly what’s happening.
I whole heartedly wish to support and participate in the movement,as on account of corruption right from top to bottom in govt activities,india is heavily sinking finacialy,moraly and socially every moment,creating higher and higher gap between rich and poor,which makes the country weak as a whole and causing enormous govt taxes to the people with illegal stashing of majoriy of national money in the foreign banks,making that country strong and india poor.
Narendra Kumar