Several major events took place in the country this year: India won the cricket world cup, assembly elections were held in five states, inflation skyrocketed, etc. But if there is something that sustained throughout the year and played a significant role not only in politics, but also in bringing a change in social consciousness, it was the Lokpal movement — Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption.
What started as an exchange of letters between Team Anna and prime minister Manmohan Singh over bringing in a legislation for an anti-corruption ombudsman, has almost turned into a full scale war. And going by the events unfolding every day, the issue is all set to become a game changer in Indian politics in the New Year.
After a futile wait for the government to bring in a Lokpal bill, Anna Hazare launched an agitation at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi in April. And the common man, who was tired and frustrated with corruption, immediately rallied around the 74-year-old Gandhian.
The Jan Lokpal Bill (JLB), which Hazare and the civil activists touted as a one-stop inspector for all types of corruption, was supported by millions as their only ray of hope.
The Lokpal movement became the single biggest headache for the Congress-led UPA-II government.
To start with, the UPA government set up a joint committee comprising Union ministers and Team Anna representatives to draft a Lokpal bill. Then during Hazare’s indefinite fast in August, the government conveyed to him the “sense of House” on a strong Lokpal Bill to be passed this year.
The Lokpal movement kept the government engaged throughout the year to come up with a strong anti-corruption mechanism. And with an unrelenting Anna, who is gearing up to take on the Congress in five poll-bound states in the next two months, the headache is only bound to grow.
On a ‘high’ after success at Jantar Mantar (in April and December) and the Ramlila Maidan, Team Anna shifted its agitation — running concurrent with parliament’s three day extended session — to Mumbai which was to be followed by a Jail Bharo agitation.
But minimum support in the Maximum City gave Team Anna a reality check and they called off both the fast and Jail Bharo on December 28.
According to a key Team Anna member Manish Sisodia, people’s anger towards corruption is bound to explode. “In 1947, people got the right to vote and then in 2005 people got the Right to Information, which empowered them to question the government and expose corruption. Now a strong Lokpal would be the third most important tool for people in India’s history as it would give them the power to take their fight against corruption to a logical conclusion,” Sisodia told DNA.
“A strong and independent Lokpal will surely be one of the game-changers in 2012 for Indians. People are not going to relent this time. Our fight will go on till India gets a strong and independent Lokpal and not the government’s proposed weak bill,” Sisodia said.
Waiting for 42 years, Lokpal Bill, which has already died a natural death eight times, completed a full circle now when the government, under pressure, was forced to take it up as top priority. The government, not only extended the winter session, but also reworked on the draft that was cleared by a parliamentary standing committee. The new bill tabled in the Lok Sabha proposed to bring in the office of the prime minister under the ambit of the Lokpal. And to get the bill passed, the UPA managers worked overtime during the three day session.
Team Anna and Hazare himself have openly declared that they are not going to leave the battle midway and the fight will intensify.
Now only time would tell what would be the shape of the Lokpal, but one thing is sure that the next few months are going to be eventful as both the government and team Anna continue to remain firm on their stands.
However, if political whispers are to be believed, the Rajya Sabha incident could be a trailer of what is in store for the Lokpal Bill.
While some believe that the Bill would go down the drain for the ninth time, a few others say it may go down the women’s reservation way.
Nobody knows whether the UPA-2 government would be hailed for bringing in a path-breaking and a historical legislation or remembered for its political antics and living in a denial mode. But all thanks to Team Anna’s Lokpal demand, 2012 for sure would be a year to watch for.
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