V. K. Singh of Team Anna cannot be faulted for his criticisms of the UPA Government — that it has failed the people and favoured powerful interest groups instead. But when he jumps to the conclusion that Parliament should be dissolved, he cannot be supported.
In a democracy, a government can only be brought down when a majority of the MPs or the people vote against it.
When a self-selected group seeks to overthrow the government by extra-constitutional means, it reflects a disturbing disregard for this basic principle of electoral democracy. No matter what the failings of a government, there can be no case for such methods, unless Team Anna wants India to go the way of Pakistan or Bangladesh.
It is true, as Team Anna points out, that the members of the government and legislature do not inspire confidence. The electoral process is biased in favour of money power.
But to view this problem in moral, rather than institutional, terms can be both naïve and dangerous.
Striking parallel
The approach bears disturbing parallels to Jayaprakash Narayan’s 1974-76 agitation to remove Indira Gandhi.
As some historians have pointed out, JP’s nebulous critique of parliamentary democracy encouraged cynicism towards democratic institutions.
This, they have said, could pave the way for authoritarian and fascist forces, as witnessed in Italy and Germany after the First World War. While there can be no questioning the progressive credentials of JP himself, the movement, by virtue of its nebulousness, provided a political space to the discredited Rashtriya Swayamsevak Singh and its affiliates, legitimising over the years their extreme brand of politics.
Alarmingly, the JP movement urged the army to rebel. We hope Team Anna, with its generous complement of ex-servicemen, has no such ideas.
Team Anna should go back to pressing for institutional reforms such as the Lokpal Bill and seeking amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, where it pertains to funding of elections. It can conduct a campaign around such issues and support candidates who take them up.
There is nothing wrong even in holding referendums on contentious issues. But a campaign to overthrow an elected government is unacceptable, as it amounts to overturning the political system.
Assuming that Team Anna is not for military dictatorship or the Chinese model, what is the change it has in mind?
Read also: Is Team Anna’s demand for dissolution of Parliament valid? - YES
Comments:
All that IAC is asking for accountability .
They are only working to eliminate corruption and punish the corrupt who
blatantly -heartlessly loot and cheat the nation and its people by abusing and
misusing power.
The whole nexus between politicians -bureaucrats and police -.
simple formula you scratch my back and i will scratch yours.
at whose cost?
the nation belongs to all not privileged few.
we elect the leaders to lead from the front and these simply cheat us.
Hoard the money in foreign banks- hawala- gold -smuggling -drugs- counterfeit
currencies circulation via nepal pakistan etc.
If the head is strong -clean- law abiding-transparent-accountable -dynamic-
then whats is the problem?
but every case is mired with mystery- shrouded in secrecy.
Is this how we run the nation.?
Running or managing one million or even 1.2 billion is the same.
Check how Brig gen : Lee kwan yew of singapore managed.
why are w eso different?
System- law is in place but we circumvent to suite and lin
Its the people like you failing this country who want to behave like
dumb and do not want to understand the change Team Anna is trying to
bring. Does India really is a democratic country with its current
political leadership which behaves like dictator and completely
sidelining the interest of common men? India is definitely not a
democracy with rampant corruption and goons in politics with 50%
criminals.
You guys do not have any thoughts and if someone with a noble cause
takes steps to do sth for country and common men, you guys instead of
supporting and adding to the weak points, will try to stop any such
improvements.
People like this author who prefer status quo wallow in the chaotic Indian democracy like the
frog which enjoys being cooked in slow simmer. He terms Team Anna and probably any one
who opposes corruption as naive and dangerous, really? The writer should read Tipping
Point. Revolutions and bloody ones do not come with lots of advertisements, warnings... the
heaps misery faced by vast sections of society give raise to Maoists, Naxalites, aggressive
trade unions and of course mild anti corruption movements. The State is free to choose who
they want to listen to and when. It is not the corruption but the perceived injustice by large
number of people... that is the problem. Team Anna, IAC... will look like picnic if the
Governments choose to ignore them and continue their present ways of governance. The
least they can do to prevent the drift and eventual rot is to close the present shop, give the
people the chance to vent their anger through ballot and resume "institutional solutions".
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