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The Euphoria - The People -The Politicians - The Team Anna and how we were duped

While we are all drowning first in the media created Anna revolution and then the so called people victory, I cant help but think that just like always...the common people have been made a fool...earlier it was only the politicians and now politicians plus some so called self-appointed representatives of people of India.

In this article, I want to critically examine what really happened over these 12 days, in terms of the expectations raised and the ultimate result.

Lie 1: The Jan Lokpal bill is the panacea of all corruption in India
While the lokpal is an instrument towards ending corruption, it was dangerous on part of team Anna to raise the expectations of people so high that a legislation would simply rid India of all corruption.
Also the fact that most people supporting Annaji were against corruption but the link established by teamm Anna that fighting corruption is equal to passing a lokpal bill and that too a Jan Lokpal bill was wrong!
Lie 2: Its is a people victory and all demands by Team Anna have been accepted
This is careful perception management by the media, the politicians as well as Team Anna and this is where I  feel that the ordinary citizen has been let down the most. Let us examine why in terms of the key demands of Team Anna
  • Demand 1: Pass Jan lokpal bill
  • Reality: A new bill is being drafted with inputs from all versions of the bill
  • Demand 2: Short circuit standing committee
  • Reality: Bill will be drafted by standing committee
  • Demand 3: Withdraw the flawed government bill
  • Reality: Not withdrawn
  • Demand 4: Pass bill in this session of Parliament
  • Reality: Not happening
  • Demand 5: Include PM
  • Reality: Not happening
  • Demand 6: Include judiciary
  • Reality: Not happening
  • Demand 7: Include MP's conduct within parliament
  • Reality: Not happening
  • Demand 8: Include Lower bureaucracy
  • Reality: Only Group A officers included
  • Demand 9: Set up Lokayuktas in all states
  • Reality: Resolution says, it is state prerogative
  • Demand 10: Have a vote in Parliament
  • Reality: No vote happened, not even a voice vote...just a thumping of desks
  • Demand 11: Have a discussion in Parliament
  • Reality: discussion happened where Parliament too a hard stand including Rahul Gandhi and Lalu prasad
  • Demand 12: Have a citizen's charter in every office
  • Reality: Accepted but as per government i.e. Mani Shankar Aiyar...its just another list on the wall

Looking at this, I am not sure the people won and who is fooling whom...BUT in this case, very paradoxically I think it is best if the truth is not widely known as at the very least people have been led to believe that they still have power!!

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