As per the preamble to the Constitution, India is a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic. Gradually it is turning into Republic of fasts!
First it was Gandhian Anna Hajare and his team. They were promised that a committee would work on joint draft of Lokpal Bill. Eventually Government and Team Anna Hajare had meetings. Now it appears that even this would meet a dead end. Senior minister Kapil Sibal targeted Anna Hajare and his supporters for skipping the latest meeting. Team Anna Hajare says recent events since the last meeting don't inspire any confidence that the government is serious enough.
‘The recent event’ involves a Yoga guru and his political aasan! Baba Ramdev, with all his political ambitions launched a fast at Ramleela Maidan, New Delhi. He claimed he wants Government to bring all the black money back to India.
The interesting prelude to the events leading to the fast included a grand welcome of Baba Ramdev by four senior cabinet ministers along with Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. Congress Party was trying to utilize the opportunity to play ‘divide and rule’ and abate the Anna Hajare-led movement.
However what followed was a nightmare, literally. It will haunt both the Central Govt. and Congress Party for many years. The hunger strike was on and almost 65000 people came to support. At odd hours of late night 5000 police men and CRPF guys marched the venue.
There was a complete mayhem. The eviction of Baba accompanied the use of teargas and lathicharge. It resulted in 70 people getting seriously injured and subsequently hospitalized.
Baba was evicted and flown to his ashram at Haridwar. He would continue his fast. But the helpless and unarmed people who were sleeping after peaceful protest were harmed.
And here comes the shocker, the Prime Minister said yesterday, "It is unfortunate that operation had to be conducted but quite honestly, there was no alternative." Just don’t know how to react.
The senior leaders of Congress Party now say Baba is a thug.
The Congress President and PM were privy to all the proceedings and decision making. Certainly the situation could have been handled properly.
BJP and others are ready to exploit the situation to their advantage. More importantly the fight against corruption should not be converted in to eternal political battle between Congress and BJP.
