Skip to main content

Anna agitation flipflop: The government "saint" broke fast relying on empty or hollow consolation on paper

By Gautam Thaker*
Anna Hajare had announced 'Fast Unto Death' in the last week of March 2018 at Delhi in order to pressurize the Government on the appointment of Lokpal at the Centre and that of Lok Ayukts in the States, as well as to secure fair price for farmers' crops aimed at resolving agricultural crisis as also for electoral reforms.
While commencing his fast, he had announced that "I am firmly determined to continue my fast unless and until our demands for strong Lokpal, solution of farmers' problems and free and fair polls are met with" and had added that the Prime Minister harbours fears that upon formation of Lokpal, the P.M. Office and his cabinet colleagues shall be covered under the purview or ambit of Lokpal. Anna further stated, until concrete action plan is formulated, he will continue his indefinite fast and 'Satyaagraha'.
While Anna had started fast for an indefinite period earlier, in the year 2011, persons like Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, V. K. Singh, Swami Agnivesh, Prashant Bhushan, Baba Ramdev, Sri Sri Ravishankar and Organization like R.S.S. etc. were associated. In order to raise anti-corruption slogans youths and concerned citizens and organizations from all over the country had joined together. In the hope of major anti-corruption revolution, people voluntarily participated in the movement and the agitation. 
The Lokpal and Lok Ayukt Act, 2013 had received approve of H.E. the President of India on 1st January 2014 and in pursuance of that, this Act came to be implemented with effect from 16-1-2014. The present rulers deliberately diluted or weakened the said Act by not providing proper infrastructural facilities, adequate funds or required man-power that were needed for effective implementation of this Act.
When the N.D.A. Government came to power at the centre in the year 2014 it was felt that to fight against corruption, implementation of said Act will be sincerely and honestly made but the present regime did not take any kind of concrete steps to that effect. During the course of four years, Anna had addressed more than 42 letters to the Central Government but the latter did not take pains to reply to even a single letter. 
During the agitation in the year 2011, people harbored thought that with the change of guards at the Centre usurping the U.P.A. regime, the country shall become corruption-free but by not initiating any steps, the new Government threw cold water on the hopes and aspirations of the people.
People were cherishing hopes and expectations that when the new Government takes over the reins of power, it will soon make appointment of Lokpal, and shall resolve the problems facing the farmers including the common men, on a war footing basis. But even after ruling for over four years, in absence of any solid – concrete steps, Anna Hajare once again commenced his fast at Delhi. But within 7 days only, he rolled back or back tracked his agitation. 
Merely on the basis of a letter of solace from the Prime Minister's Office that steps will be initiated in the direction of resolving the problems, the agitation was abruptly called back and wound up. The stalwart Social Servant Kishan Baburao alias Anna Hajare suddenly ended up his agitation. While the sun of such a person was shining or risen at its peak then all his demands were acceded to by the U.P.A. Government even by passing an Act in the parliament. 
All that he required was offered in toto. For implementation of this Act, BJP had made promise in its election manifesto for the 2014 polls. By encashing fullest benefit of that agitation, N.D.A's main constituent party i.e. B.J.P. came to power. Even though the Government changed, the talk of corruption-free nation was shelved off. 
In support of Anna's demands way back in the year 2011 even Hinduist organizations had also openly come out in the streets. They also could not bring about any solution or a change. Present rulers have indulged into uncanny passivity.
Having had lost credibility, Anna agitation did not receive enough support and the agitation met with a tragic end. Anna's image got transformed into "a Government saint" like that of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Baba Ramdeo. It is a matter of surprise that fast-breaking rites or rituals were performed at the hands of Chief Minister of Maharashtra and not a single senior or responsible representative of the Central Government had remained present. 
It is hard to predict as to what will happen if the problems do not get resolved in coming six months. Due to such types of compromises or settlements there does not appear any kind of enthusiasm among the youths or the people. It is indeed a miracle or irony of time that the masses which thronged spontaneously during Anna's agitation in the year 2011, did not openly turn out in the like numbers or measure. It is being felt that the issues which were raised by Anna shall scarcely be resolved in coming six months.
---
*National President, Indian Radical Humanist Association

Comments

TRENDING

'Very low rung in quality ladder': Critique of ICMR study on 'sudden deaths' post-2021

By Bhaskaran Raman*  Since about mid-2021, a new phenomenon of extreme concern has been observed throughout the world, including India : unexplained sudden deaths of seemingly healthy and active people, especially youngsters. In the recently concluded Navratri garba celebrations, an unprecedented number of young persons succumbed to heart attack deaths. After a long delay, ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) has finally has published a case-control study on sudden deaths among Indians of age 18-45.

SC 'appears to foster' culture of secrecy, does not seek electoral bond details from SBI

By Rosamma Thomas*  In its order of November 2, 2023 on the case of Association for Democratic Reforms vs Union of India contesting constitutional validity of electoral bonds, the Supreme Court directed all political parties to give particulars of the bonds received by them in sealed covers to the Election Commission of India. SC sought that information be updated until September 2023. 

Savarkar in Ahmedabad 'declared' two-nation theory in 1937, Jinnah followed 3 years later

By Our Representative One of the top freedom fighters whom BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi revere the most, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, was also a great supporter of the two nation theory for India, one for Hindus another for Muslims, claims a new expose on the man who is also known to be the original proponent of the concept of Hindutva.

Only 12% of schools RTE compliant: Whither 6% budgetary allocation for education?

By Ambarish Rai* Despite Indian state’s commitment of 6% GDP on education, the Finance Minister completely ignored right to education for children and strengthening implementation of RTE Act which makes education a fundamental right in her budget speech . The Right to Education (RTE) Forum, which is a collective of different stakeholders in education, condemns this neglect of a legal entitlement, which is unconstitutional and demand for overall increase in the budget to ensure improvement in learning outcomes and overall enhancement of quality education.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative  Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Union Health Ministry, FSSAI 'fail to respond' to NHRC directive on packaged food

By Our Representative  The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed deep concern over the adverse health effects caused by packaged foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats. Recognizing it as a violation of the Right to Life and Right to Health of Indian citizens, the quasi-judicial body called for a response from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding its selection of front-of-pack labels aimed at providing consumers with information to make healthier choices.

British companies export 'deadly' asbestos to India, other countries from offshore offices

Inside a UK asbestos factory in 1994 before the mineral was banned By Rajiv Shah “The Sunday Times”, which forms part of the powerful British daily, “The Times”, has raised the alarm that though the “deadly” asbestos is banned in Britain, companies registered in United Kingdom, and operating from other countries, “are involved in shipping it to developing nations”, especially India. India, Brazil, Russia and China account for almost 80% of the asbestos consumed globally every year, it adds.