“Any further neglect of people's aspirations would have led to devastation. A bloody revolution is in the offing. Anna's (Anna Hazare) emergence as a protector of democracy is well timed with the current goings-on wherein corruption is eating into the vitals of the nation,” says Ramjee Singh, secretary of Afro-Asian Philosophical Association and member of Sarva Seva Sangh.
The former Vice-Chancellor of Jain Vishwa Bharati University, Ladnun in Rajasthan, and former Member of the Lok Sabha, Mr. Singh is a staunch supporter of social democracy.
Need of the hour
“An economic democracy is the need of the hour. Anna is a symbol of people's aspirations. The current agitation is a blessing in disguise, to shatter the evil designs of ‘brand protectors of capitalism'. There is, however, a good sign of reconciliation,” said Mr. Singh, who was in the city recently to participate in a series of programmes.
Cautioning that “the clock is moving backwards,” he said the ruling party leaders, who thought that everything was under political control, must open their eyes and realise that “Parliament is supreme, but not sovereign.”
Quoting Hobbes (Thomas Hobbes), Lock (John Lock), and Rousseau (Jean Jacques Rousseau), he spoke at length of their theories on human nature and how men govern themselves.
“People are sovereign. People are an abstract phenomenon. People are seeking Presidential system. Parliamentary system is a curse thrust on this nation by the British.
Today, Parliament is reduced to a “talking shop.” Party-based system, where party bosses control the affairs, is always dangerous,” he maintained.
Emphasising the need for “internal unity” as much as “communal unity,” the peace activist, as he likes to be called, said Anna's mission was the need of the hour.
“People are losing faith. Disparity is growing, skyrocketing prices of essential commodities have made life miserable for the common man, 200-odd districts are affected by Maoism and Naxalism. The average daily income of 78 crore people of this country is a measly Rs. 18. Scores of adivasis are languishing in medieval ages,” he bemoaned.
Dig at Minister
Mr. Singh, who is also honorary president of International Society of Social Philosophy, ridiculed Union Minister Salman Khurshid's statement that the ongoing demonstrations did not represent the whole of India.
Accusing the Minister of playing hot and cold, Mr. Singh said: “Comments such as “we can also bring people” tantamount to disregarding the sentiments of the aam aadmi.”
Wondering why such a hue and cry was being raised about Lokpal, which was “only an investigating authority and not a court,” he said each leader was eager to avert tumbling down of skeletons from his closet.
