Team Anna is considering the Hissar bypoll as a referrendum on the Jan Lokpal bill and has called for not voting for the congress unless a written commitment is obtained from the govt and the congress party that the bill will be passed in winter session.This controversial stand has attracted its share of logical and rational backers and detractors.
Though there is a broad agreement between both sides on the lokpal bill and its components the continous dilly-dalling b the govt,the foul mouthing and verbal games indulged by the govt and congress spkespersons have raised doubts regarding the govt’s intentions.Rahul Gandhi’s “Game changer” speech has led to fears of the real issue getting lost in procedures and delays.
Anna’s team rightly claims that it is playing a role of raising and educating the voter thus ensuring continous accountability of the elected reps to the voter.Its been alleged that Anna’s team is entering active politics by this move.But it is the duty of every citizen play a continous part in a nation’s ploitical life not just in his capacity as a elected rep but equally as a responsible and informed voter.
The parliament has unanimously passed the resolution on janlok pal bill last month and thus it does not make sense for the congress not to give a written a commitment on the issue.Thus team anna’s move serves rightly asa timely and since polls are involved as a costly remainder for the govt not to push the issue on to the backburner for political purposes.
A section of intelligentsia claims that it could amount to blackmailing the govt and Anna’s stand could wrongly benefit the other political parties.It could also be advisable for team Anna to wait for the completion of winter session and congress on its part could give a written commitment like other political parties to prove its sincerity.The bill is now under consideration by the standing committee which is inviting different opinions to make the bill more effective.A written statement in these conditions could be the way out of the imbroglio.
Thus it can be concluded that Team Anna has sought to hurt the govt where it hurts most ie its electoral prospects.Any move by the govt and congress to wrongly attack Team Anna on their plitical affiiliations could backfire for the govt like the last time around.An Indian version of the “Arab Spring” can thus be sought to be in motion this time around.
-------Sudhanva and Prashanth