Anna’s ‘My Way or No Way’

Anna first asked for a joint draft committee which would consult his team and give due consideration to his own Jan Lokpa bill. The UPA agreed. In the meetings of the joint draft committee which followed most of Anna’s essential demands were met. Anna declared victory.

During his anshan at Ramlila, Anna had conceded more than once that it is ultimately the parliament’s prerogative to pass any  bill. The norms of democracy demand that the government pays heed to anyone who has an opinion on any legislation. The Lokpal bill which was prepared by the joint committee was not the only bill which had come to government’s table for consideration. The UPA couldn’t have brusquely discarded the other two drafts on its table. Now when the government, keeping all  views in mind,  is in the process of fine-tuning an effective Lokpal bill to be introduced in the parliament, Anna Hazare has reverted to his old “my way or highway” attitude. His sudden exhortation to the people of Hissar not to vote for Congress unless it backs only his own Jan Lokpal bill is tantamount to going back on the accord reached with the government. 

Dr Mookhi Amir Ali

Mumbai, M.S.