The righteous minded hates corruption and wants this evil eradicated from
India
or possibly form planet Earth. Therefore, when Anna Hazare launched a movement
in April, 2011 he immediately enjoyed unprecedented mass support and captured
the national stage. Inspired by Anna’s achievement the immensely rich yoga guru
Baba Ramdev jumped in the fray too with a movement against a related factor of
black money. History was created.
As the internal contradictions within Team Anna grew mass support for the
movement began to wane. The Mumbai fast in December, 2011 was a terrible flop
and the situation further worsened with Anna Hazare falling sick frequently and
going on a silence vow. Team Anna was plunged into severe introspection.
Maybe inspired by Baba Ramdev’s star power, this time Anna Hazare decided
to join hands and the two cult figures celebrated their union with a one-day
token fast in Delhi
in June, 2012. Sometime later both of them held a joint press conference and
announced two major movement programs. Anna would start an indefinite fast from
July 25 for a strong anti-corruption Bill and Baba Ramdev would launch an
indefinite movement against black money. The venue was the national capital, New Delhi.
Team Anna sat into a fast with Anna to join later if necessary. It became
inevitable after a pathetic lack of support. The Baba attended the fast on the
third day and infused crowds into it, but the supporters stayed there as long
as he was there. Lot of people criticized the
Baba for trying to highjack the movement.
With no surging crowd and a disinterested government Anna Hazare turned
political on 3rd of August. Three days later he disbanded Team Anna
saying the team had outlived its objectives and they would no longer negotiate
with the government for a strong anti-corruption Bill. There will be a
political party instead to enter into Parliament and change the system from
within.
As planned, Baba Ramdev started his movement from today in Delhi. The crowds surged
to nearly 20,000 people thanks to the Baba’s star power, but it was a far cry
from the 900,000 he boasted of bringing in.
Now, the most significant development. The Baba announced a three day
fast first and then the next program if the government did not relent by that
time. And, it was not only a fight against black money, but also for a strong
anti-corruption Bill with the basic elements demanded by Anna Hazare. He
expressed his vow to always support Anna’s cause, but unlike Team Anna he had
no political agenda and he would never attack or target any political party or
politicians.
While the righteous wants corruption removed the very fight against the
evil is becoming utterly complex and replete with question marks. The
government sticking to its wait and watch policy and therefore the main
opposition party, BJP, naturally is openly extending support to Baba Ramdev.
The movement is also becoming charmingly open for both corrupt and
non-corrupt to jump in. For many corrupt souls it provides the platform to show
off; in fact, it provides retirement benefit bonanza too. Many retired persons
who dedicated their lives to greed and corruption and made a dirty lot of money
can join in for a ‘safe’ social service. There is hardly any surprise in the poster incident today when Baba Ramdev’s aide Balkrishna who is in jail for a
forgery case was shown along with the greatest freedom fighters of India including
Mahatma Gandhi!
The politics of corruption goes on unabated!
