February 6, 2012
Dear Annaji,
I write to you as someone who has closely monitored your movements in your quest for the Jan-Lokpal bill. I am a twenty something, and a proud Indian not in the context of the times we live in, but also for much of what India has stood for down the ages.
Please don’t claim to say that you represent the voice of more than 120 crore people of India. I am not your fan, nor your supporter in anyway. Along with me, I have my dalit brothers, adivasis and many more religious minorities to whom your movement has turned a blind eye for. We are also included in the idea of India. No doubt the publicity you got has put the issues of corruption both in high places of government and into lives of common man.
But you know what, 65 years later, we have still managed corruption, if not tolerated. There are far too many issues to deal with urgently and the way in which you point a finger at the government and the amount of hurry your team exhibits is unasking for. How can self-proclaimed leaders project themselves as messiahs of the masses. I am not sure what kind of deal your team might have done with the main stream news channels, because there were days where they covered just Jan-lokpal as if there was nothing else happening anywhere in India. It is a matter of extreme surprise to me as to how the triad of Baba Ramdev, Sri Sri Ravishankar and yourself realised the need for anti-corruption at the same time ? should I think as mere coincidence ? no ways. Why don’t you support the right to food issue ? why have you forgotten to extend your support to eradicate communal violence by pointing a finger at the government point blank. That is chalta- hai issue right ?
My heart also wishes just like you to wipe out corruption. But when there are hidden motives, I feel its a dangerous attempt. Infact we should also support the cause of Swami Nigmananda and Medha Patkar always. They too fight for a purpose. It affects everyone directly or indirectly. What makes me laugh is the youth of the country who supported you, didn’t know why they were supporting jan lok-pal. On asking some of them , the reply came was, its fun to be away from college and school and do timepass on the roads.
Moreover, conducting bike-rallies and wasting so much of resources is unbecoming for a movement so very transparent. While everyone from a village level patwari to the prime minister would be answerable to the Lokpal, the Lokpal itself would be answerable to no one at all. Or rather to God. If a movement sets itself above the constitution and challenges democracy, a pillar of the constitution, why should you get support?
According to you corruption will put an end to most of India’s problems. But I am afraid it may not. The problems of Malnutrition, Infant and Maternal mortality , Human Development Index and such will not see improvement with the coming of jan-lokpal. I am curious to know, how you got this idea of wiping out corruption suddenly. Its better late than never, true to it, I sincerely appreciate your effort, at least it made UPA-II wake up from their deep slumber. But it would have been much better if you had also remembered the cause of religious minorities, dalits, adivasis. India would have saluted you, if you had given a strategy to elevate brand India with regard to education, poverty and fought also for peace. However enforcing a law will still remain a billion dollar question.
Ashoka’s Lion Capital was adopted as a symbol of the Indian state by the makers of the constitution. The signature of India at 65 stands defanged and helpless. When they roar, the vulture laughs. Can we change that ?
Yours sincerely,
Edmond Fernandes, Mangalore.