EDIT Seize The Moment Let people’s participation be a continuous process VINOD MEHTA

JITENDER GUPTA

Movers, shakers A fasting Anna (centre) with Prashant Bhushan (left) and Arvind Kejriwal

EDIT

Seize The Moment

Let people's participation be a continuous process

VINOD MEHTA

http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?278130

It is late Thursday afternoon, pregnant with possibilities, as I try and make sense which way the wind is blowing. Are we on the cusp of a violent storm or a cool breeze? I am neither brave nor foolish enough to make predictions.

No publication has supported or celebrated NGO power more than Outlook. Derisively, our critics call us the jholawala magazine. It is a jhola we wear proudly. Therefore, it pains me to see the divide and the acrimony in the NGO community. I am an admirer and friend of Arvind Kejriwal/Prashant Bhushan. I am also an admirer and friend of Aruna Roy/Nikhil Dey. These two groups bring great lustre and enormous respect to our civil society. Together and separately they have fought for the Lokpal bill with singular distinction. They stand on the verge of a grand victory. Victory for the people and victory against the much-hated system. To throw it away after all the hard work has been done would be a national tragedy.

Why can't Aruna Roy and Prashant Bhushan sit across a table and hammer out a single draft of their respective bills? These versions have so much in common that a consensus could be reached in a couple of hours. I urge both sides to take the first step for arriving at a joint bill.

Is it too much to ask for an empowered Lokpal, created and mandated by our elected legislators?

Now that our political class has been shamed and shown up, they can see the writing on the wall. The time for denial is over. For all their infirmities, the eyesight of our netas when it comes to self-preservation is perfect. Besides, the Constitution and its creature, Parliament, belong as much to "them" as "us". It is the people's Constitution and the people's Parliament, even though it is occasionally occupied by rogues. Passing an effective Lokpal bill does not mean undermining Parliament and its processes. Is the citizen asking for too much when he wants an empowered Lokpal, created and mandated by the country's elected representatives? In the last few days, implicit in all the debates witnessed is a suggestion that a strong ombudsman and a strong Parliament are incompatible. That is a dangerous trap to fall into. Can't the citizen have both, rather than only one? Why not go for the win-win solution?

Compromise is a dirty word in our lexicon currently. One could argue that the mess we find ourselves in is because, in the past, compromise has been the rule rather than the exception. Happily, what is being sought here is not the c-word. The final civil society bill will be strengthened if it passes through parliamentary scrutiny. The Anna Hazare team is, rightfully, suspicious of "procedures" as another name for delaying tactics. I see no reason why the final bill, after being debated by the standing committee and Parliament, cannot be passed in four weeks.

The last fortnight has been nerve-wracking for the country. We have come close to anarchy in our search for a "second independence". The danger is not yet over. However, we have an opportunity to deepen and enrich our democracy through genuine people's participation as a continuous process instead of a once-in-five-years exercise. Seize the moment.

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ALSO IN THIS STORY

COVER STORY A Long-Drawn Endgame If the UPA was arrogant, Anna Hazare's team was inflexible. But Anna's fast and the support he got forced the government's hand. ANURADHA RAMAN

OPINION The Topiwala Camera In covering Anna, TV seems to have shed its critical faculties ANIL DHARKER

POLITICS Life is Out There Congress stands cornered, while BJP is in a Catch-22 situation SABA NAQVI, PRARTHNA GAHILOTE

AT THE MAIDAN The Kindling Crucible Ramlila Maidan has become the forge for the genesis of a new breed of citizenry AJAZ ASHRAF

PEOPLE'S PROTEST Every Anna's Worth This time the million mutineers have the demon by the horns and they won't let up until the fire in their bellies has purged "the corrupt system". NAMRATA JOSHI, ARPITA BASU, DEBARSHI DASGUPTA, NEHA BHATT

IN HISTORY 1974... Is This Really As Real? The raging storm for Anna has past parallels: in its flaring up, and probable blowing out SHEELA REDDY

CANDIDATES Kaun Banega Lokpal? A few eminent suggestions... DEBARSHI DASGUPTA

NGOS Double Dissent NGOs differ on Jan Lokpal, pick on Team Anna's shortcomings LOLA NAYAR

CORPORATES System Down India Inc too wants an honest day's work PRAGYA SINGH

BOLLYWOOD The Hero Myth Anna is all-permeating. Bollywood isn't immune. But they're okay with that. NAMRATA JOSHI

AT THE MAIDAN Hazare Khwahishein Aisi Cartoonist Sandeep Adhwaryu regrets his inability to be totally serious SANDEEP ADHWARYU

FILED IN: 
AUTHORS:  VINOD MEHTA 
PEOPLE:  ANNA HAZARE | ARUNA ROY | PRASHANT BHUSHAN | ARVIND KEJRIWAL 
TAGS:  CORRUPTION | LOKAYUKTA & LOKPAL | CIVIL SOCIETY 
SECTION:  NATIONAL 
SUBSECTION:  OPINION

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DAILY MAIL

HAVE YOUR SAY |  READ ALL 7 COMMENTS

AUG 27, 2011 06:01 PM 7	People are fed up with hearing that their hard earned money is being LOOTED by a bunch of white-collar criminals.  Thanks to the vigilante media ( thats about 40% of it ), we are now at least hearing about these unpunishable crimes. Does VM expect us to swallow it without even a struggle? MALE UNBLOCKED CHENNAI, INDIA  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (1)  |   DISLIKE (0)  |   REPORT ABUSE
AUG 27, 2011 05:57 PM 6	Threecheers to You Mr.Vinod Mehta. Your Thoughts on this edit is really Excellant. I am a regular reader of Outlook and vouch that your magazine always supported NGOs. Compromise  should not be considered as a dirty word. Your suggestion of win-win sollution is the need of the hour. V.N.K.MURTI PATTAMBI, INDIA  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (0)  |   DISLIKE (0)  |   REPORT ABUSE
AUG 27, 2011 05:06 PM 5	I have not read a more useless editorial in any magazine or newspaper. It says absolutely nothing and takes no stand beyond homilies. Editorials should stand for something. GANESAN NJ, USA  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (0)  |   DISLIKE (0)  |   REPORT ABUSE
AUG 27, 2011 04:57 PM 4	I ask very simple question can Jan lokpal  bill finish  the corruption ?There is  anti corruption bill allready existed  but  implication of bill not working properly. because those who implicating they try to make some   loopholes ,criminals with help of lawyer easily escape .This can happen with lokpal bill also..Indian corruption is unique.People of India not  think themselves guilty breaking the government. law.Great thinker of Maharashtra LOKHITWADI  wrote in19Th century=" Indians afraid to break the law of Dharma and caste  but donot afraid to break the government law." There are psychological, social and economical  barriers  which are increasing corruption.When we reduce these barriers than only we can reduce corruption.Bringing  new and new law only increase the corruption RAMESH RAGHUVANSHI PUNE, INDIA  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (0)  |   DISLIKE (0)  |   REPORT ABUSE
AUG 27, 2011 04:40 PM 3	The whole problem points to the severe failure of MMS. He failed to lead and discilpline his cabinet. Even now he is being lead. It is obvious from various scams that he was deeply involved in the decision making.   CREAM PIE NEW DELHI, INDIA  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (2)  |   DISLIKE (0)  |   REPORT ABUSE

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