Jan Lokpal Bill

SHARMILA BOSE
Phone : 9811915670
Email : bosesharmila@rediffmail.com

21st August, 2011

India Against Corruption
A-119, Kaushambi,
Ghaziabad,
Uttar Pradesh – 201010

Kind Attn. : Sri Anna Hazzare

Sub : Jan Lokpal Bill

Dear Annaji,

Though I do not claim to be your blind follower, but something that binds you and me is our background which led to our sensitivity and commitment to our Country. You have been trained by Indian Army and I am nurtured by Indian Air Force.

Here, I would like to join you to discuss the cause you raised through Jan Lokpal Bill. The conceptual understanding of the Jan Lok Pal Bill is very exciting and from the discussions that I have understood on various talk shows on Electronic Media has given a fair understanding on the formation of Institution which will be away from the Control of Government and have universal approach to fight against Economic Corruption at all level of the Governance Machinery including Parliament and Judiciary.

Though I acknowledge the Jan Lokpal Bill is State of Art instrument to fight against corruption which will shoot at least 60% of corruption from the Governance Institutions. But there are few apprehensions on Corruption for me since I did not face any corruption crisis just like Mr. Prashant Bhushan.

In any Govt. department the bribe is generally asked when the documents are incomplete and there is some flaw in the application. To facilitate the applicant, officials mis-do or manipulate with the procedure and take the bribe from the applicant which actually benefits the applicant at the cost of Government. In this case, if the official asks for the bribe for misconduct against Govt., then who should complain, the Government or the Applicant.

I have seen police taking bribes from those petty criminals against whom there are no sufficient documents or evidence to prosecute them in the Court so, as a penalty they take bribe for them to release them.

I have seen a strong nexus amongst Lawyers and local mafia who create conflicts in the society and call police and then make a monetary compromise, which is shared by Local politicians / Lawyer and Police. In that case who should be booked against corruption?

I have seen Prostitution is an organized Crime where Politicians / Mafia / Local Residents and of course Police play a significant role. In that case who should be accountable for such Social/Moral/Legal Corruption?

I have seen the street-hawkers who cannot afford the shops pays hafta to Police through the collection in-charge who is from the Community, when asked these Street Hawkers about these hafta, they said if we take shops for rent we have to pay 50,000/- but to Police we pay 4000/- p.m. In that case who should be booked for Corruption?

When the Public steal Income from the Government and do not pay proper Tax and manipulates accounts through Charted Accountant and IT Department, who should be booked against Corruption, after all, the beneficiary are the People who steal Tax from the Government?

When I went for AIIMS for my treatment, where Doctors were handful and a huge number of patients, and out of those patients I talked they spent huge money on private hospitals, but nothing worked out and then they came to Govt. Hospital for treatment, why the Private Hospitals are minting money on the destitute of patients, are they covered under corruption?

I also wondered when People choose a Corrupt Politicians against Freebies and sell vote for petty gain. How to penalize this corruption from the Polity, which is actual responsible for the whole Corrupt system?

Being a Researcher in Political Science and Responsible Citizen keeping so many questions in mind, I visited Ramlilla Maidan on 20th August, 2011 to understand how the people actually look at Anti-Corruption Movement. I initiated my discussion which was extremely brief with few question, e.g., how you define Corruption? How any institution can curtail corruption? Discussed CWG and 2G and Govt. behavior on PAC, etc., and also discussed Micro level Corruption, like Police, Ration card where the accountability and responsibility of people. When the answers were difficult, the ground became Verbal Violent from a Gandhian non-violence movement. I was called Corrupt, Traitor of the Land and a fellow from Pakistan. Though my credibility does not need anyone’s endorsement, but the behavior of Anna’s Followers made me think very seriously on Jan Lokpal issue.

I have observed an absolute failure of Reasoning amongst the participants of the movement against corruption. They are the Parrot representative of Mr. A. Kejrival. Their inability to answer my queries and abusing me and asked me to leave the Ramlila Ground, makes me compare your Approach and Government Approach.

Government obstructed your right to protest and your followers obstructed my expression on issue of corruption. Govt. allegation on you as Corrupt, and your follower awarded me as Traitor. Government says America/RSS is behind your Movement and your follower blamed me as Pakistan National. Govt. put you in Jail and your supporters asked me to leave the premises of Ramlila Ground. Please explain to me Annaji, how your followers are different from Government Touts, which is Absolute, Closed to discussion and Autocratic approach against the Democratic norms.

When an AK-47 is given to person that are emotional and lack the ability to reason make the Weapon dangerous since the victims will be those who would fail to satisfy their emotions. But when this similar weapon is in the hand of Solider that are well governed and nurtured makes the Border Secure. Similarly, Jan Lokpal is that AK-47 if used by those who are unreasonable and corrupt at their own level will lead a complete breakdown of the State-system. An efficient and strong Law that is controlled by People should have maturity in the Polity. Do you think our Polity is sufficiently matured, wise and uncorrupted to handle Jan Lokpal. This needs evaluation.

Annaji, the Corruption arises from the Tendency of Exploitation and this prevail amongst those who have Power, whether in the Government Machinery or in the Society. We need to work towards the mechanism that can curtail exploitation and make the Society Dejure since it is the Dejure Culture that gives Social Justice and curtail Corruption.

I am sending a copy of this letter to Dr. Manmohan Singh, since I send all my research papers on State-Society Relations to appraise him my thought process.

With best regards,

Yours sincerely,



(SHARMILA BOSE)


C.C. : Dr. Manmohan Singh, PM of India, New Delhi.