April 13, 2011
 

Beware of governments inviting you for talks

It may seem like the Indian government has gone out of its way to accommodate the demands of Anna Hazare & co. related to the Jan Lokpal bill.

Did the government really have a choice? It had previously kowtowed to demands for Telangana, reservations for Gujjars, Jats. So we'd have actually been surprised if the government had reacted to Anna Hazare's fast with a show of brutality.

Yet, neither Telangana, nor reservations for Gujjars or Jats, are anywhere near reality as of now. Anna Hazare & co. have probably become yet another entry in the list of groups that have been hoodwinked into a never-ending dialogue.

Did Anna Hazare & co. actually have any choice other than going on a protest? It's tempting to argue that they should work within the system, and seek to enforce change by being part of the political system (i.e. get elected to assemblies / parliament). Those who get elected are invariably tainted, either directly or indirectly, whether it is through tempting voters through hard cash or through completely meaningless manifestos.

But when the system needs a cleansing, it can only be done from outside.

Labels: anna hazare, government, jan lokpal bill, lokpal