The LokPal or JokePal

Close to 50 years and so many governments, but LokPal is yet to see the light of the day. There is some mysterious energy or power that is always preventing this LokPal Bill to be passed or framed. The first time it was perhaps in the 1960s that the demand for LokPal Bill was mooted. But we are yet to get anything such.

So many governments have place so many drafts of LokPal in parliament but no government was serious enough to convert it into a Bill or Law. But recently it attained widespread publicity and headlines in news because of the movement started by Anna Hazare and his team for to force the government to pass the bill in the parliament. Anna Hazare, a Padma Bhushan, ex-Army man, a Gandhian, a social activist, perhaps adjectives would fall short to describe such a person. He launched a nation wide movement in the month of April, 2011 for the support of LokPal Bill, a draft of which was also prepared by them. He received massive support from walks of life.

The government being under pressure due to the massive support of the common people included them into the joint drafting committee of the LokPal that was to be placed in the parliament. But on all contentious issues like including of Prime Minister or Judges in the ambit of LokPal, it was the government which had the last say. The proper justifications of the civil society members demanding to include them under the ambit of LokPal was never given a serious thought.

The government and the congress ridiculing the demands of Anna and his team by saying that this would lead to a JokePal. They are vehemently opposing inclusion of Prime Minister under LokePal. Perhaps, they have their own vested interests. This government being involved in so many in so many scams and corruptions, it is definitely not at their best of interests to have a strong Ombudsman Bill. They always trying to keep some loopholes in the bill. What is more important to note that they are actually trying to place a JokePal in the parliament that would perhaps have no real powers. It would turn up to be another government machinery that stands and sits at mercy of the ruling party and government.

The Hierarchy of Indian Politics

The moment one thinks about Indian politics, the name of one family that always comes up is the Nehru-Gandhi family. And someone from this family was almost always at the helm of affairs. Starting with Nehru immediately after the Independence and now with Sonia Gandhi and the passing of reigns to Rahul, this is the family that ruled the country either directly or indirectly as it is happening now. Though 'rule' would not be a correct word in a democratic country but when one someone from the same family comes to power then basic democratic nature vanishes. Though many would not agree with this.

The matter that is of most concern is that in a country of more than 120 crore population, we are not able to find a single person who can lead the nation forward. Apart from few names who led the government for a brief period with only exception being Atalji, it was always the same family. Many might have already raised eyebrows and have started asking questions what about Dr. Manmohan Singh, but to them there is one question, is he really the head of the government or it is the same Gandhi family that is taking decisions. And Dr. Singh's habit of seeking regular guidance from Sonia madam, further proves the notion.

But then the basic question that arises is why the Gandhi family, why not some other person or family? What is the X factor about this particular family? Is it because the surname Gandhi has been immortalized in the minds of Indian people due to our Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi? Perhaps, to me India could never come out of dynastic politics or may be the mindset of Indian people is not suited for democracy.

Our too much fantasy with the same family is undoubtedly stopping us from having some other people as Prime Minister of this country and who could have changed the course of actions for India. The government's most important trouble shooter Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, perhaps India would always miss him as one of the finest Prime Minister, India never had. Similar such names won't be difficult to find. Now, the reason for them not being Prime Minister lies with the people with this country or the family that has been instrumental in either becoming Prime Minister or by deciding who their choice would be. And the best answer can be given by them.

What's that Third Front...

Whenever I hear about Third Front or United Front, it comes to me all the history notes that I had studied during my school days about World Wars where different countries opened up different fronts to stop the march of other countries. At least there it was for a good reason to protect the countrymen from the enemies. But in our country a front is created to take India to sluggery. These few people who can't get along with any party thus form a third front. They have so many Prime Minister aspirants that its number exceeds the number of parties in the front. They themselves admit that they won't have the support to form a government on their own but they want to become king maker. These king makers are nothing but the ones who stabilise government and hamper in proper decision making of a government.

Once they name it United They irony of the fact is that before every elections they form such fronts and after every elections they break up thus keeping general public in an illusion.Front, on the other occasion they say it to be Third Front. To me its all the same. The parties that could not get into a good bargain with any of the two major National Parties, start talking of all these fronts. This is a conglomeration of all the political parties that have hardly done much for the country apart from forming Governments once or twice in their respective states.

My question is: What happens all these fronts after the elections and where do they disappear????? Politics is nothing but a game where politicians consider only their individual interests... Give them a ministerial berth and they will forget all their ideologies, pre poll alliances, manifestos, etc. with the help of which they have won won a few of the seats. So in politics crocodiles are better placed than the humans.

So many P.M.s

Yesterday every news channel was airing the news that Mayawati has considered herself to be the best and the only alternative to Dr. Manmohan Singh. Its not only Mayawati but there are many others who have already shown their interest for the chair of P.M. My opinion is not about Mayawati or anybody in particular. Its the greatest gift as well as curse to Indian democracy that anybody willing can hold any post though he or she may or may not have the required credentials. India needs such a P.M., who can march India to new heights, solve all the economic crisis that is prevailing, uplift the condition of farmers, provide better basic amenities to the people and parallely put India into the global forum and take an active part in the global decision making. We can't think of a prime minister who wins on the basis of caste based politics. If I have to say my opinion then I see only a few leaders who can lead India namely Dr. Manmohan Singh, L.K. Advani, Pranab Mukherjee(a person India must see as a P.M.), and among the young leaders mainly P. Chidambaram, Sushma Swaraj and there may be few others. Its not bad to think of becoming prime minister but saying one should introspect as to whether he or she would be a good match to the prestige and dignity attached to the post. Its definitely not a child's play job. A decision may affect crores of people. And we perhaps don't require a prime minister to remain within the shackles of caste or any other matter as it may be. So my friends while voting its a duty of ours to think and then vote the right person as each one of our vote will count and we should make it count.