The article “Deconstructing the Anna Hazare campaign” (April 16) has rightly pointed to the consequences of two major post-Independent era movements, which resulted in right-wing forces gaining ground. How to maintain secular credentials and move forward to develop a society based on a scientific temperament needs to be addressed by taking all sections on board. As members of civil society, we need to respect each other's beliefs and maintain some decorum for achieving our common goals.
A. M. Ibrahim Ansari,Aligarh
Mr. Hazare provided a forum to all those fed up with rampant corruption at all levels. For the first time, we saw the educated and youth taking to the streets in support of a Jan Lokpal bill to control corruption. For them, it was a cause to join hands. Many would not even have cared to examine the responsibilities, powers and limitations of the Lokpal.
A fast-unto-death is, in many ways, undemocratic and can be seen as blackmail. There is an authoritarian undertone to a group of civil society activists seeking to define how a particular law is to be drafted. A country that hates its politicians, howsoever justified, will start hating democracy also. The real culprit is the presence of the well-to-do, business linked, family-driven and, to a great extent, criminal elements in politics. Mr. Hazare's movement, at best, should be seen as a wake-up call to rectify this aberration. There can be no instant justice in a democracy.
A.B. Mehta,Bhopal
The article talks of the two major movements in post-Independent India which were supported by the RSS. Support from all walks of life and sections are acceptable in protests like these. People need not worry about the ideology of those who join the anti-corruption campaign as long as they have no hidden agenda.
Md. Mujeeb ur Rahman,Malappuram
Is political space so ‘sacred' that ideology-driven and saffron-clad crusaders against corruption should be kept out? If India runs on the principles of parliamentary democracy, keeping such people out would be undemocratic. Instead, a gentle persuasion to help them join mainstream politics would be in order. If two attempts in the past have failed, as the author claims, what prevents the third movement from drawing lessons from them?
G.S. Ramkumar,Bangalore
Although it is necessary to analyse why Mr. Hazare's campaign against corruption paid off, it will be far more fruitful to use the success to make people aware that without their active participation, the campaign will fail miserably. We must refuse to pay money or petty bribes, and insist on implementing the rules and procedures that will reduce the scope for official discretion.
Narendra M. Apte,Pune
The Anna Hazare campaign against corruption deserves praise because it was the explosion of a gigantic bubble. The government handled the situation smartly. The development deserves to be treated with utmost seriousness. It needs to be followed up with concrete steps for the passage and implementation of the Jan Lokpal bill. Like any other law, the potential impact of this law too will depend on the seriousness with which it is implemented.
Shahidur Rashid Talukdar,Lubbock, Texas
