Sometimes children ask you startling questions. And you don't have answers. My niece was amused with the kind of debate in the Indian Parliament. She just asked, "why do these uncles get hyper and bicker?"
The camera does not fake it. What you see is what you get. And whatever happened in the name of 'parliamentary debate and it's supremacy' was even below substandard levels.
The much touted serious debate on the 'landmark legislation' Lokpal Bill turned out to be such a flop show. I think it has no parallel.
Now in the perception after the fact, it is clear that Congress never really wanted to pass the bill. In it's usual style and subsequent arrogance, it seems Congress did not even consult their 'United Progressive' alliance partners. Most notably the TMC. Whatever said about her way of functioning, Mamata Bannerjee can not be wished away. (Unless Congress and SP join hands officially, in UP and at the Centre.)
There was opposition from Yadavs of RJD and SP also for obvious reasons - they have pending CBI cases. With my limited knowledge of Indian polity, I strongly believe that Congress tried to divert the attention and positive energy by raking up the reservation issue within Lokpal panel. That too with aid from Lalu Yadav!
It is duty of Government to propose a bill and also get it passed. To believe that the principal opposition BJP and the Left parties would 'support' the constitutional amendment just because the PM-in-waiting Rahul Gandhi 'pioneered' the idea, is not just plain naive but preposterous also. The opposition had their legitimate ideas to put forward in terms of amendments.
It is absurd to believe that anything Sonia/Rahul Gandhi recommends and all the MPs will follow, like in the UK
The government proposed Lokpal Bill has intrinsic flaws. It needs to be enhanced.
If Congress wants the credit of bringing in Lokpal, it also needs to seize the blame of the current fiasco.
Having said that, BJP should also get it's act together. They do behave as if they will not be in power again.
Meanwhile, the Anna movement gains an edge and becomes much more relevant now, the low turn out at Mumbai notwithstanding.
