As I sat in front of the TV, watching P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal and Ambika Soni justify the government's....oops, the police's decision to arrest Anna Hazare, I was dumbfounded at the arrogant and condescending attitude of those three senior members of the political establishment. Their attitude towards a million strong peaceful protesters was summed up in PC's statement towards the end 'Laws cannot be made by some social activists sitting in a maidan'.
This is tantamount to saying that people should not hold their elected representatives accountable. That people should elect them once in five years, go back to do their chores and workplaces, while these representatives ostensibly go about their duties of passing laws. To take people to be idiots is bad enough. To go on national television to broadcast this message is arrogance to the core.
I have my views on the Lokpal Bill. The question is not about whether the Anna version of the bill is perfect. Or whether this bill will root out corruption. The question is - do people have a say in what the government says should be the law? And if people do want to have a say, do they have a collective voice? And if they do, can they exercise their right to raise that voice in a peaceful way?
Shame shame Mr. Singh. Wake up please. The country has had enough of you and your coterie mumbling inane rules. Wake up and start listening to the people who brought you to power. They elected you for a reason. Get going. The country has enormous patience for well meaning leaders. It has no respect for crooks or sharp-tongued, out-of-touch-with-reality legal eagles who masquerade as representatives of the people. And if you do not have the ability to do any good, step aside. There are others who are worth a try!
This is tantamount to saying that people should not hold their elected representatives accountable. That people should elect them once in five years, go back to do their chores and workplaces, while these representatives ostensibly go about their duties of passing laws. To take people to be idiots is bad enough. To go on national television to broadcast this message is arrogance to the core.
I have my views on the Lokpal Bill. The question is not about whether the Anna version of the bill is perfect. Or whether this bill will root out corruption. The question is - do people have a say in what the government says should be the law? And if people do want to have a say, do they have a collective voice? And if they do, can they exercise their right to raise that voice in a peaceful way?
Shame shame Mr. Singh. Wake up please. The country has had enough of you and your coterie mumbling inane rules. Wake up and start listening to the people who brought you to power. They elected you for a reason. Get going. The country has enormous patience for well meaning leaders. It has no respect for crooks or sharp-tongued, out-of-touch-with-reality legal eagles who masquerade as representatives of the people. And if you do not have the ability to do any good, step aside. There are others who are worth a try!
Comments
On your last paragraph, MMS (Maha Moorkh Singh), I have kind of lost all respect for him. He is like Bheeshma, siding on the wrong side and defending the wrong for his own logic / loyalty. There is no point in being honest and a man of integrity yourself when you allow and ok most corrupt people to thrive.
Overall, I am amazed and still wonder at the "hard" approach that comes out of this "impotent" govt. !!!!