ANNAS MOVEMENT: NEXT WHAT.

Its now back to the keyboard after leaving the streets for most.

Anna who was  recuperating at Gurgaon in a  hospital under the expert care of Dr Trehan), has since reached his village in Maharastra

Again looking forward  to what is likely to be the result of the Lokpal Bill before the Standing Committee of the Hon Parliament, , the obstacles  we believe  will be our Parliament s Members and the ruling combine.Actually one is worried at the manner the parliament functions.  The systems and procedures, in place , makes it impossible for the  peoples representative to bring change in its functioning by  bringing laws to change the face of the country. One feels that the august institution is become a victim of systems that   have  reduced it  into a weak and not functional body, which negates the very  reason d’etre for its existence in the first place.What use for such an expensive institution where members can hardly speak and even cannot bring in sorely required laws, unless they  have been vetted by the ruling government whose priorities may be otherwise?The seriousness of this  Government in fighting corruption is seen by the type of bill they put up for the consideration of Parliament  because of which Anna had to go on a fast.Actually this  Government somehow has lost its mission and does not care for the Constitution which proclaims we are a democratic,secular and socialist state,wheres they have replaced ” Socialist “,with “Capitalist”. and herein lies the catch. why they who should have been the prime movers always  act as the dead weight against reform.Somehow the ruling  Oligarchy will continously act as the impediment to any reform process , on any subject ,that requires reform as they are most content with the “status quo” which gives them good leeway for indulging in corrupt practices. Unfortunately we have to wait for another two years for change which is sorely required. Even on the Lok pal Bill, we come across a section that looks at it as a measure to bring in SC/ST into its body.Hon Ambedkar was never thought of as a harijan,but as a intellectual of India. Nobody bothered about his caste and rightly.He is not honored as the prime drafter of the Indian  constitution as a harijan?

The  present ‘Constitution has at the stage of its drafting many illustrious personalities,all were  the products of the freedom struggle and they came from diverse backgrounds and communities that make the great nation we are.Babasajib Ambedkar was respcted not because he was a Dalit(Harijan),but because he was one of Indias foremest legal brains at the time.He did full justice to his stature.But this great document is showing strains of age.Many needs/clauses  which were not required  or felt at the time now need to be brought in,viz right of recall of elected representatives,rejection of all candidates on ballot by the electorate,propotional representation for seats in elected bodies etc, etc, all which can only be done by a new constituent assembly which needs to be constituted urgently.The presnt assemblies composed of many elements  having criminal cases against them ,can ill provide leadership of the type needed by the country at this juncture.

The answer is to demand the creation of a new Constituent Assembly, to  write  a new Consttitution.The earlier one has served it purpose.The Parties in India have in the name of democracy reduced it into a document  to suit the interests of the corrupt families.An  oligarchy that rules the country.The fact that now it is the OBC that is demanding the newer bodies should only work on the principles of a Hindu State with representation for sc/st and obcs,bodes ill for our democracy.Making such a demand for the economic upliftment of those held down for centuries is very  well, and they are having reservations that are never ending and has resulted in some government departments having lopsided representations of only SC and OBC categories resulting in their mal functioning.What happens to this demand when it comes to Muslims and Christians who come  from these same backward classes.Have we also reduced our country  wily nilly into a hindu state?Is it  because we are now  a hindu state though to some extent a benign democratic one? Is it  valid,to extend the principle to every organ of the state,without thought whether there are individuals who can play a  proper part in them, is stretching the point too much. If there are ,then certainly they can and will be considered.We must not forget that the first Constituent Assembly had representatives of all the communities that make up our body politic.Theerefore we now need a new Constituent Assembly to avoid perpetual confrontation between people and elected representatives who only function withen the parametres of the one they are elected under.

What next .I have always believed that our E.C which has a measure of independence , needs to be strengthened . It must have an Income Tax wing and a Police Force with  investigative powers .of arrest and quick proscecution of any   criminal and corrupt elements seeking election. So far these have escaped  the dragnet and have been able to enter the system by  filing  their candidatures  easily by making false declarations,whereas they should have been arrested at this  first stage of the electoral process.They should have to explain how they have accumulated  such huge  assets in 5 or 10 years , on the small  allowances they receive after being elected or becoming ministers? .If the E.C were to have a very tough entry point,we would be able to eliminate criminals from our body politic. More so the ruling families who have converted our democracy into an oligarchy ANNA has rightly chosen the next  agitational issue as removal of the ills associated with the electoral systems.

The Anna Team must  continue  to stay focused only  on national issues that effect the lives of the common man and not fritter their attention on non issues.The required reforms must be hammered home and criminals banished from Politics.Those who have accumulated huge black money and are ministers must be asked to leave gracefully or a National Commission must be demanded to get these people out and their ill gotten wealth confiscated to the nation.  Their names are well known.We do not need a Wiki Leak for this.

It is good to see that the people have already unleashed the principles enuntiated by Anna of probity in publec life firstly for  oneself by refusing to take bribes and by not giving any.The T.V showed citizens of Bijnor in U.P. taking up the cry and forcing the collector to take cognizance of what was happening under his nose.Lets hope the movement spreads and it envelops the entire country well before the Hon Standing Committee of our Hon Parliament comes out with its draft law

Mumbai Municiapl Corruption

.The Times of India recently came out with a newsitem that the “Chhabiwallas”i.e the guys who turn the valves every morning and evening were extracting money to either stop or start the flow of potable water from the reservoirs to the the citizens.This of course was known for years to all the citizens except to the Press..

A fact that is not focused on ,is that this B.M.C is home to the largest concentration of SC and OBC among its employees and in some departments they are in a majority..Nobody can discipline them.

It is an open secret these chhabiwallas are living in affluence.They extract money  from citizens for everything they do.They know they belong to the sc category and use its power to the hilt. In the  hydraulic department, reports have it,  they are in a majority and it  is suffering because of the fact.

Earlier the other Department that was known to be corrupt and continues is the Buildings Proposals Department ,which deals with the Builders,Architacts etc.The Staff wear heavy gold on their fingers and drive in cars and are affluent They are kings and are not amenable even to RTIs.They have a standard cyclostyled answer to every query.Their files are never fully posted up to date , with all the papers, when examination is asked for. There is not even a place where one can sit to examine a file,if one wants to read it.They are a  law to themselves.Only heavy  and total computerisation ,will help the common man if one can expect a change in this department.

They come directly under the Municipal Commissioner. He sits in the City, while these gentlemen are spread over the city.The way out is to break them up and put each under the connected Ward Officer.Then the present system can be controlled and the source of corruption reduced,because one cannot expect the Builders to help or  to be good boys as this category lives to exploit  laws in which they are helped for which money is paid?..

W.O.R.E. Ward Office for removal of encroachments.

This is  another department that is reported to be close to corrupt practices There  are allegations  of  a large graft scheme involving the hawkers who have carts and those who hawk their fruits and vegetables by squatting on the pavements of streets.It is said to be of the dimension of  crores of ruppees per month.Maybe we get at the truth of what are  presently allegations. Some of the Hawkers act as the conduit and collectors  for the payments to this department staff  for allowing them to encroach on the roads and  for this payment  early information is given to the hawkers  when raiding parties are   on their way.

The staff find all types of excuses to delay action viz the Police is not helpful, though the police have geared up and have personnel allotted duties for requests by the B.M.C.Another is that they have already removed the encroachment and they cannot do it daily.To the reasons to why no notice or severe law is enforced or heavy fines levied,there is no answer. It is reported in todays T.O.I. that a very well known name in this Deptt was arrested for extracting money it is alleged.We hope not ,as one had a very high regard for this person?The Head i.e. the A.E. of this department should not be allowed to stay in the post for more than one year and his promotions should be linked with the number of encroachments removed or if he left an encroachment free   for which he should get his  promotions.

The Licensing Department is another place for money making it is reported.Actually all departments which have public dealings need to be closely monitored and actions taken to keep them graft free.

 

The B.M.C has grown too huge.It needs to be decentralised., by being broken into at least 8/10 units each under a Commissioner, having jurisdiction of  these smaller units  of the size  of  the area of the M.P or the M.L.A.If this cannot be done then the B.M.C needs to be abolished and Mumbai City be made a State by itself.Then this Assembly can decide the form of administration.Till this happens the best is to decentralise the BMC for better administration and the welfare of the people.

The Sobo area can be delinked and it can have a nominated body to look after its adminsitration ,as presently it is a negative revenue area for the B.M.C.

ANNA’S MOVEMENT: The second round.

This second round was a more difficult round for both sides in the bout.Skipping around  both sides landed some punches,but largely it passed with equal points for both sides and the followers were satisfied on both sides.However ,since Annas side had taken more risks, they were happier at the outcome and a measure of celebrations were  rightly unleashed.

It is clear to all sides in this battle , that there will have to be cleaning up at many  more  levels and fronts, than was earlier planned for  and envisaged , in order to  achieve the goal of a corruption free society.This means that the  electoral process would need to be put thru a wringer and many changes in the law made.The E.C itself in the first place needs to be strengthened,by it being provided with powers of investigation into the sratement of  by  details of assets not filed  while filing application for candidature at the time of elections .There is also the need to investigate  the steady increase in assets by these elected people withen  their short terms of 5 years and that of their families, trusts etc etc..The E.C needs a special income tax wing and police investigating wing.  Many of these oligarchic families may have  be taken into  their rightful places in jail.

Of course we need the “right of recall”".Right to refuse to vote for all the candidates”, on the list , ” propotional representation of parties based on votes received” and not the  present first at the post method, and many other changes to make our electoral processes stronger inorder to keep out criminals and corrupt elements from entering our elective institutions.

Anna is recuperating at the Gurgaon hospital and we need to leave let him rest for a while Today ,the country with his supporters are in festive mood and rightly so,but this round has been a “no winners round”and our happiness needs to be tempered by plans for ensuring enthusiasm does not flag, but  the tempo is maintained, for a long and sustained battle involving the economy,health, education,and almost every department and ministry of the governments at the centre and the States. Any reduction in tempo will be to our peril.

ANNAS REVOLUTION SP.READS

Anna has electrified the young citizen of the country with his message and one is happy to see that all over the country these young citizens are giving their voice to annas demand for a corruption free country and one with reduction in corruption.The Jan Lokpal bill is only one method to start the fight and there are many more to come.

Ms Arunaji Roy  of the NAC is an angry person.So far it appears  she has had a clear field to work on behalf of the civil society ,being close to Soniaji,now she is facing competetion from Annas organization.She was talking over the T.V. Stn  about how the RTI bill had to have 152 amendments before it could get some shape.It shows how this government functions.It only knows how to mess up things in its legilative work?That this bill  was brought into being because of her efforts is good and we all give her credit for the same.But her angriness about Annas bill as being anti democracy and dictatorial in essence is hard to understand.What is dictatorial about his demand.He has requested the G.O.I. to also place his draft bill before the Standing Committee of Parliament, just as the NAC is now doing.But the NAC has still to make public its version.Why is she afraid of the people of this country  by keeping her version secret?

Anna has done wonders in such a short time.He has united the people of this country fed up with the excuses of the elected representatives,who have been looting the country.Quite a few are still ministers even though not too long ago they were zeros financially they are now crorepatis.These are the people who Arunaji must target as she is close to the G.O.I.

It was Plato who said to the young of his day ” SEEK TRUTH WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG, FOR IF YOU DONT, IT WILL LATER ESCAPE YOUR GRASP”ANNA has done just this, by involving the young citizen of the country, with his invitation to them to join him.May God keep him safe as the country needs his leadership more and more to clean up the mess made by all the political parties in this country by their allowing evil to take hold of our body politic.The need of the hour is to ensure that if there are any impediments to the voice of the people being strengthened by existing parliamentary systems and practices, then these need to be abolished. People  of  the likes of Aruna Roy ahould bend their might in the direction.Not only this there is need of a new Constitution.The present one is outdated.We need arrangements for the Right of  recall,Referandum clauses,change in the electoral systems  by introduction of propotional representation of Parties in elected bodies and a host of other improvements, which  the people of this country cannot leave to the oligarchy ruling the country. We need :Anna for all this. The will of the people is supreme and it is being expressed on the Streets presently.The next stage will come when this present lot of elected persons who have made money will be thrown out, if they stand for election and even before that the E.C needs to ensure they are not allowed to file their nominations unless they can show how they progressively increased their assets.

The revolution for change strengthens

The Anna movement for  removal of corruption from the national scene continues to strengthen every day all over the country, as is seen by the vivid pictures and scenes on T.V from all over the country.

There is not a single person in the country  today,who is not thankful to Elder brother Hazare  for  teaching the indian  people, after 65 years of freedom ,how to hold their heads high.

This revolution for change, is only the start and not the end.Even if Hon Manmohan Singh were to change tack and bring in a new stronger and better  bill to usher in an independent body to monitor corruption in the country,  into Parliament,the movement for change must not falter.

We need to frame a nNew Constitution.The present one has outlived its perposes.We must have a new Constituent Assembly for framing a new constitution in which we  must have the right for recall,Referandum systems,,Propotional Representation,Reservation based on economic criteria also etc,etc all based on the principles that we are a sovereign republic that is democratic,secular and socialist.All laws must be framed withen these contours.

Decentralisation will be the order of the day.Small States and decentralised Institutions will result in better governance.Our economic systems must be based on the fundamentals of our constitution, where policies are not weighted and measured as presently,by profits, but by the common good and the needs of our common people.

ay God keep Anna in good health,as to be fit to lead the nation.He is not only honest but he is right.May his light shine continue to shine.

 

 

 

HAS THE REVOLUTION BEGUN.

The G.O.I has lost its nerve and in a knee jerk reaction arrested Elder Brother(ANNA means Elder Brother  in Marathi)Hazare.

It makes sad reading to hear the Ministers of the Government of India saying they have nothing to do with the arrest and the police are well withen their power to take the steps they have as a law and order issue.Why then waste so much precious money on having ministers if the Police can handle all Home Affairs?.When one sees these gentlemen on T.V. one feels like  one is hearing the voice of the British officers  during the freedom struggle.Change the face on the shoulders of these gentlemen with that of an Englishman and  one gets the feel of the freedom movement period and  the stupidity of what is being spoken presently

The reaction of the Delhi citizens is well understood.They are angry and they have shown it, as is seen in the pictures, flashed on T.V.If all these people now change tactics and switch the movement to gharrowing Parliament, instead of frittering their  numbers at several spot. The effects will be electrifying

.In the Phillipines the people in the first non violent mass movement congregated at Manila’s main city area and  took down the Dictator and corrupt  Marcos.

The young people in the Middle East Countries congregated at a single spot and effected change.

Now Parliament Street should be taken over by  the citizens of Delhi and N.Delhi to be near our Parliament and thus  Parliamentarians  given notice  to move fast. People from all over India can then join in this mass movement. at this spot.

The Jokepal Bill of the G.O.I. must be scrapped and thrown out and  a good strong bill or Bills brought in to ensure there is an all out war on corruption at all levels and among all sectors in Government and in the Private sector ,the P.M included.

If the present Government wants to hear the  voice of people like them have a referandum on the subject,but be ready if the people decide against their bill to  resign and go in for a general election.

Corruption is eating into our vitals and making a mockery of our democracy.ANNA and his team must be released unconditionally forthwith.The  P.M. himself must come forward and ensure peace descends on the nation by offering to talk and dialogue.

If wiser councils do not prevail on the Cong(I), they run the risk of losing the next elections and becoming history?

BJP Kar Natak in Bangaluru.

There is high  drama going on in the State of Kar Natak.It involves the removal of Ore .It is said that more than 600 individuals including the C.M were  involved in this drama.A report copy  of the loot of the wealth ,is said to have been given to his Excellency the Governor of the State.It is hoped he will appoint a fast track Court with wide powers to further investigate the  persons involved in these  dramatic events  and bring all the guilty to book.

This High Powered Hon  Court should also lay the guide lines how to find  out and hound out all the people  who looted the States  all over our Dear Motherland in the course of the last 72 years,so that this gentry help us in building more jails, where they and their families can  spend the rest of their lives, while four times their loot is confiscated from them?

How come Our Elected Representatives Assets keep growing so fast after election.

It would be nice if the Government of India Department of Statistics was  to make a public  study on how our elected representatives are able to grow their assets in such a fast and  marvelous fashion after they are get  elected unlike the bulk of our citizens ,who after a lifetime of hard  work are able to accumulate  only  a pitttance

.How come  this gentry  are having crores  worth of assets in land,jewellery and real estate ,and wthis just grows and never reduces while they are just Corporators or M.L.As or M.P. and Ministers?Will the Income Tax Department make a study public  so that the people at large learn about this secret and wealth is spreaad among all strata of our society.

It is also necessary to find out why the Communists elected to offices  are not able to generate similar assets.

We need a State and not a Ministry for Mumbai

The E.T of today  22 July on page  3,has the heading “MAX CITY NE3EDS SEPERATE MINISTRY TO TACKLE ISSUES”

Both the SS and the MNS are reported to have been most vehement about the failure of the Cong(I0 to govern this city .The facwt is both the SS and the Marathas are to blame for the sorry state we are in.

The forst thing to do is to make the M.Ps responsible for the administration in the city along with the two Guardian Ministers,both off whom have failed miserably,more so the one for the suburbs,who should concentrate on his work with his community which takes much of his time.Then the C.M should start the process for the people of Mumbai to have the new State of Mumbai. whether the SS agrees or not.The hinterland marathas are ill suited to run this City or State and if these gentlemen are not removed the present mess will continue.It is only when Mumbai’ s citizens are given what should rightly be theirs i.e a State of their own will the situation improve.We do not need a special ministery for Mumbai but a State with an assembly and government of our own..Lets have a referendum and get the views of Mumbai’s citizens on this issue.

Who is Katrina Kaif?

It is reported that this lady called Mr Rahul Gandhi a half Indian alleged ly because his mother was born and Italian and by her reasoning he is only half Indian.The fact is that by tvirtue of his mothers italian blood he should be a full italian and nothing half about him.

A cong(I) spokesman is reported to have enquired who is this lady who made the statement on Rahul.It is strange that he did not know about this lady.Not long ago the present C.M of Maharastra wanted her to act as the brand ambassador for the State.And day in and out she is seen on T.V and the Press advertising  some product or the other.It was also reported she had some problems about her income tax returns which was subsequently straightened out .It would be good to know what is the status on this lady’s nationality.Is she an  Indian or British citizen or whatever and if she is not an Indian whether she has a visa permitting her to handle all the jobs she is doing in this country? In any case the latest is she has made a discovery, that she had overstepped and she has since withdrawn her controversial views But we hope investigations are made about her background.

Is abnormality the agenda of the U.S.Government

It is reported that the Obama/Clinton team have made the U.N Commission for Human Rights, as the forum for propagating their views  on abortion,same sex marriage and so called gender equality,which runs counter to all sane and historic views on the subject .

In this mad race it is reported that they have recently got the U.N to pass some resolutions on the subject,non binding though.

We trust our U.N. delegation will oppose this agenda of the U.S  in keeping with the majority opinion of our country.