‘They should have stepped up the pressure on the Government from outside’
Team Anna’s decision to embrace electoral politics as a means to fight corruption has triggered a debate among supporters of social activist Anna Hazare, with many expressing scepticism over the future of the anti-corruption movement.
The prevailing confusion was palpable at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Friday afternoon with Anna’s supporters discussing the pro and con of floating a political party. “A few days after they sat on an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar, Team Anna members accused all political parties of not being committed to a strong Lokpal Bill. And now they have also decided to join politics. They should have stepped up the pressure on the Government from outside by involving more people,” said Sanjay, a resident of neighbouring Ghaziabad.
However, Sanjay’s friend Pradeep had a different view. “They did whatever they could to get a strong anti-corruption law. They interacted with the political parties, sought their support, sought suggestions from the public and the intelligentsia, had meetings with the Government representatives and galvanised public support during the past 16 months. They earlier sat on fast three times, resolutions were passed in Parliament to include the demands put forth by Annaji, but we are yet to see a strong Lokpal Bill. They were left with no option, but to provide a political alternative to the people of India,” he said.
Dressed up as Hindu deity Hanuman, with his body pained in Tri-colour, Kailash Singh from Ujjan in Madhya Pradesh said: “I have been part of this movement since day one. I have come hear only because I have tremendous faith in Anna Hazare, I cannot vouch for other team members. I do not see myself as part of a political movement,” he said.
‘Where will they get funds to fight polls?”
A young engineer, who did not wish to be named, said: “I have written to Annaji and Kiran Bedi on the issue of joining politics. For the past several years, I have been into social work despite my family commitments. However, politics is an altogether different ball game. It tends to make people corrupt. From where will they get funds to fight elections?” he asked.
However, confident about the success of the new strategy adopted by Anna Hazare and his team, Rama Raghavan of Chennai said: “In the process, people will reject corrupt politicians and elect clean candidates. The common man will be empowered. In the past few months, Annaji has awakened the conscious of the masses all across the country and this time, they will certainly come out and elect the right people,” she said.
Keywords: Team Anna, electoral politics, anti-corruption movement, Jan Lokpal, Lokpal Bill, India Against Corruption, Jantar Mantar, electoral triumphs, Team Anna, Indian politics
Several of the sceptic supporters ask "Where will you get the money required for elections?" Every movement starts with ardent followers and supporters who go about spreading the message in his own street or in his own area snd seeking help to weed out some kind of oppression.
Corruption is also a kind of oppression. Ask people to rise in revolt against corruption. That does not require money. Electoral reforms to weed out corrupt elements from contesting will become a reality.
With all said and done whether politics is untouchable.Congress a movement changed into politics.whether politics were not there? They fought against external British rule only.But we have to fight internally against the failure in our own system to save democracy for future generation by silent revolution.It is very tough and difficult.Our rulings has created corruption and corrupt practices and adopted lot of acts to meet and save power for themselves and inculcated the habit in the minds of every individual which has to be eradicated to save democracy.There are plenty of right type of people in our country who can deliver this to the society.Let us think forward this team can bring all together.It is the right time people who really want to cleanse the system enter and suggest not only how it has to be but also contribute their might for the welfare of the nation in all spheres.Best opportunity for us to correct.Freedom is our responsibility too. Transform politics to movement.
This is an erroneous, possibly disastrous step taken by Shri Hazare.
Politics in India is a filthy game, and if whatever political outfit
is floated by Team Anna has to reach the top so as to strengthen its
voice, it will have to swim in the same muck to get there. But none of
them being career politicians, they will burn out much before they
reach a respectable political level.
Instead of doing this, they should have stuck to their earlier
strategy of protesting against corruption from the outside...put
pressure on the Parliament. They should have made their movement
inclusive of more than just corruption, so that it would have a
broader mandate and it would have wider appeal, so that they could be
able to say that rather than Team Anna, it is the people of India who
are pressurizing the Parliament to destroy corruption with Team Anna
as a guide.
after independence we have not changed the law, now after Annas team
comes to power we all should support Annas team to change the law and
make it simple and strong, not the way it is.I have full faith in Annas
team that they will be in POWER 2014. may be before this day. I fully
support Annas Team.
This is the only way which has been left by ruling party and Opposition party . This decision is very crucial for not only Team Anna but also for millions people who looks towards for corruption free morning.And i hope this decision is going to make difference.
After independence we have not seen clean politics nor clear verdict to any political party.The name politics is always associated with power.At the end the powerful persons with political intentions within the team may erode the mission on which Anna Team gears the nation to a very confident destination.Jumping into politics is just a hurried managerial tactics.
Politicians are not a special breed of people who descend on the parliament from an alien land. They are elected from among us. They are only as corrupt as each of us are or would be if we knew we could get away with it. So please let's stop this drama of self-victimization and politician-bashing.
For whatever reasons, the people who make a hue and cry over corruption would never blink twice before casting their vote for candidates who have corruption charges against them. As for Team Anna, they have chosen the apt location for hoodwinking a nation- 'Jantar Mantar'. This will be a treat to watch.
Anna groups main agenda is to bring BJP back to the power. They tacitly work hand in gloves. It is no sectet they will form an alliance. To demoralize and bring bad reputation to the present central government is the modus operandi for that. If anna group is so serious about corruption, can they answer one question. When BJP and other opposition parties vehemently opposed the passage of lokpal bill in RS precisely for the reason that the bill included the state governments also to be covered, where this annaji & co disappeared. Why annaji AT THAT TIME has not emphasized the necessity of implementation at state level condemned the BJP stand point. That means the corruption in state govts can go scot free? Is this the true spirit of anti corruption? It needs no emphasis to say that public is more affected by corruption in state governments which depress the life and culture of people.
People who are running away from responsibility only will be scared of
entering public life. I welcome the decision of Team Anna to enter
politics. But here is a word of caution "Power and Money corrupts",
but to win over corruption you need to enter the battle field of
politics to control it. It is not an easy journey keeping in mind the
level of corruption in this country. Corruption does not mean bribes
paid in Government offices, how corrupt we are as people in our minds.
Corruption originates in mind. I would advise Team Anna to form the
agenda clearly, just Jan Lokpal can not be the agenda. It needs to be
broadened. It is going to take few decades and generations to root out
corruption entirely if we work continuously. Do we have the courage?
Already people are running away at the mention of word "politics". We
need to redefine politics and the way this country is governed. We
need to change this democracy to be true democracy. I have run out of
space to write here. See you later
Team Anna is a drama party.
It gives me creeps to think of Team Anna sharing seats with politicians. Can't believe that Anna can take a step like that in the name of bringing revolution. Also, don't know if someone can get into mud and stay for years under a pretext to clean them!!!! Anyhow, 2014 general elections would facilitate Rahul and his cotorie sweeping the numbers with absolute majority because of Team Anna getting into sharing mostly the BJP's urban votes.
This is a surprise for many of us.we must sincerely think on the plight
of ANNA TEAM ,the way they were treated by UPA2 GOVT. The entry of Anna
team in to a politicl sphere,is a last resorts to get their demands met
in LOK-SABHA ,& RAJ SABHA.
we all INDIANS must whole heartedly stand by the team ANNA in their an
endeavour of uprooting the currupt system. the gap bet. haves & havenot
must be narrowed down.If team succeed in removal of curruption ,per
captia income will bedoubled .we will enter in to advance economy.
People are habituated of taking money for vote from Politicians.
Whatever be the credential of the candidate unless Party spends money
they cannot get the votes. Additionally there are lot of expenses like
motor vehicles, banners, flags, posters, pamphlets etc and meeting
expenditure for mike, electricity etc. Each candidate needs to spend
minimum Rs 2 Crore. From where these money will come. Nobody will
spend money of this nature for getting a salary of Rs 50000 per month
only for 5 years. HOW ANNA CAN PREVENT CORRUPTION OF HIS CANDIDATES.
He should refrain from joining ploitics but fight the evil corruption
as is being done till yesterday.
at last govt forced team anna to commit a mistake which govt wanted
All the mantri-sahntri will be busy collecting all the looted money they
can. Because they are sure next time India will by good people with Anna
Ji's blessings.
Anna’s proposal to float a political party is the right step in the
right direction. This way, Anna can take the anti corruption movement
right into the parliament where laws are made. Any amount of struggle
outside parliament will not yield anything. Corruption can be
eradicated from our country only by effective laws made inside
parliament by good parliamentarians. Therefore it is absolutely clear
that we should send good MPs to the parliament.
But to run a political party, lots of money is required. To keep his
movement sacred and pure, Anna should raise funds directly from the
people on voluntary contribution basis. They should have a transparent
system of fund raising. I am sure there are lots of people to
contribute generously. Online fund collection is the most efficient
way. Whereas the most political parties in our country raise their
funds through illegal means by indirectly looting people. The people
who fund these political parties are the ones who have vested
interests
We do not want to see Anna and his team in Politics but current situation demand them in Politics... Only time will tell how they behave once they win election.
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