I am in favor of a strong and effective Lokpal, but even if we get one, I know, we as Indians excel in destroying and debasing institutions and making them defunct.
Lot of thought has gone in the drafting of the Lokpal bill. There is a version of the civil society and there is a version of the government. The two versions differ but are clearly not dichotomous. Of course the Governments version makes the Lokpal less effective and process of prosecution more tedious and iterative.
But I can tell you, Lokpal is not a panacea for the lot of India. No government, no bill, no measure even of unforeseen authority or independence can cure India from the abjectly abysmal state of systemic rot and dys-functionality that it has reached. I can tell you, only two people can bring about the needed change in this stinking system, one is you and the other is I.
The Constitution of India is one of the best in the world, but what have we made out of it. One of the very unique articles of the Indian Constitution is the Directive Principles. Our constitution enshrines this set of exalted values in addition to the Fundamental Rights, the latter finding a place in most constitutions of the world. But what have we made of them.
The institution of the Governors was purported to be equally exalted. People of eminence, completely non - partisan were supposed to grace this office. The office was accorded all possible immunities to ensure such non-partisan discharge of duty. The office was also integral to the federal architecture of the Indian polity. Look at the stately mansions in which they are housed. Look at the perks that they are entitled to. But what have we made of this institution. This gubernatorial assignment has been reduced to being a stooge of the High Commands, regardless of who the high command of the party in power at the centre is.
Don’t go far, look at the President of India. The largest democracy of the world. The position of the President is so tall, that even the most maverick mind has not demanded to bring it in the purview of the Lokpal. A person of extremely high stature, station and scholarship was supposed to be appointed to this position by an electorate well defined by the Constitution. How are our presidents appointed? Who are appointed? Who appoints them? How independently do they function? All this is a matter of record and may not merit any greater discussion than what I have done here. Pratibha Patil, does India deserve such a controversially tainted president?
We have the uncanny knack to sabotage the sanctity of any institution without much effort. Such is the tyranny of our post independence political acculturation.
Very soon you will see, if the UPA is in power, Rahul Gandhi aka voice of the chairperson will be appointing the Lokpal. The beautiful process enshrined for such appointment will merely adorn the book. If it is the NDA, another coterie could be appointing the Lokpal. May be Ranjan Bhattacharya. The Lokpal will have clearly understood loyalties.
The answer to this is national character and nation building. Two ways that can help us do this, inculcation of good values at home and at school and call to serve the nation before self either by way of an enriched NCC program or something else, that captures the imagination of the children while their value system is still being conceived.
No comments:
Post a Comment