Anna 3.0: Significance

I wrote in my previous blog (Anna 3.0) – “The battle lines are drawn already. It is not going to be Civil Society vs Politicians. But it will be Gandhi vs Gandhi!” Its turning true…

Anna 2.0 - Civil Society Vs Parliament

During the Anna 2.0, the civil society was seen as divided. The Aruna Group aligned with the Govt. The ‘Team Anna’ was divided with Swami Agnivesh and some other members leaving the show. On the opposite, the political class came together in the Parliament to pass the ‘Sense of House’. So it was like Divided Civil Society Vs United Parliament. The truce was declared with the Standing committee to finalize the draft taking inputs from all including Team Anna. The intellectuals, academicians off-lately corrected themselves to find merits in this anti-corruption movement. Everybody, who became Anna for sometime during the agitation, delighted to have participation in such movement. The stage was all set to Strong Lokpal.

The euphoric mood changed as winter chilled Delhi. The Congress after a short ceasefire on this front, again started to play dirty politics. The Kirti Azad, a BJP MP and member of Standing Committee, openly blamed Congress for taking complete u-turn on the issue of inclusion of PM, Lower bureaucracy. The strongest evidence is the ‘dissent note’ on one of the issue was given by 17 members against 11 members. How democratic! “I feel humiliated and insulted” remarked Azad, who was among 17 dissenters.

The final draft doesn't include the lower bureaucracy, keep CBI outside Lokpal, want Parliament to decide on PM.  Team Anna rejected the total draft. Anna Hazare accused Rahul Gandhi and Congress for subverting entire Lokpal proposals. He sat on day long fast, Played a ‘Tendulkar’ shot by inviting politician on the platform to debate. The oppositions attended the debate, with Congress led UPA ignored it.

8 opposition parties BJP (115), SP (22), JD(U) (20), CPM (16), BJD (14), TDP (6), CPI (4) and Akali Dal (4) shared the platform with Hazare. They add up to 201 MPs in Loksabha, well below magic figure. But this move will surely put Congress on tight spot. Media’s prime time debate topic was ‘Did Congress make a mistake by not attending the debate?’ Indeed it was. The conflict line is shifted, pushing Congress to the corner. It is now Civil Society + Opposition Vs Congress. Now the Parliament will be divided.

Anna 3.0 - Civil Society + Opposition

There are strong parallels to be drawn between current situation and the pre-emergency politics. JP was Anna then, Opposition joined the hands with JP! The Congress responded with mid-night murder of Democracy, declaring the emergency. Rest is history. But the difference here will be response. With all its egos and arrogance as it is, it has lost that Indira Power! God save the Congress now…   

Anna 3.0

One of the first pics of Jantar Mantar! Anna reaches Jantar Mantar! Dec 11, 2011.

Anna Hazare is back to the Capital to step the pressure on UPA for Lokpal. This time in chilled winter. The 1.0 was in hot summer, the 2.0 was during monsoon and it was long and unpredictable for UPA forecasters. The 2.0 created havoc by ‘flooding’ the streets of entire country. The Govt has to budge and accepted the ‘sense of people’. The Govt's heart hasn’t been transformed due to non-violent movement. But it was because of hard realities of losing the votes of the ‘Great Indian Middle Class’! 

The Anna 3.0 is shortly going to start his day long fast at Jantar Mantar. The battle lines are drawn already. It is not going to be Civil Society vs Politicians. But it will be Gandhi vs Gandhi! 

The Gandhian Anna Hazare supported by common man on streets, non-congress political parties on one side. The ‘other Gandhis’ would be Sonia and charming prince Rahul baba. “Rahul Gandhi is behind this. Who else it could be?”, Hazare cleared it while blaming the fractured Lokpal draft submitted by standing committee.

For Anna and Annas, there is going to battle again. They have already proved their power. The means are questioned, the ends are questioned but Annas haven’t been displaced a bit. They marched inch by inch exposing UPA's unwill to act against corruption. Message becomes louder and clear – Bring Strong Lokpal! This time the IAC has widened their net. In bid to garner political support, they invited the political parties including Congress for the open debate. The oppositions BJP, Communist, JDU and BJD are attending the debate. The Congress refused to attend.

To answer the statesmanship of Anna, Congress has nothing. They have tried the Rahul card but India has moved beyond Rajiv’s India. There will be no more personality cults, no more sympathy for the first family.  So Rahul remains unattractive, not even among aspiring brides! The Congress is now trying to enhance support base in parliament, called all-Party meeting on Wednesday. PM has called it, so one can guess 'indecisive' outcome.

Hope Congress will get it right and move beyond the ‘high command’.       

Chinese Sibal...

Kapil Sibal wants internet to be gagged. He met the executives of Facebook, Microsoft and Yahoo some weeks back. In the meeting he insisted the social networking executives to delete the offensive contents before posting on such public platform. The definition of offensive is Sibalian! What is then the Sibalian? Simple to guess! New York Times reported that Sibal showed attendees a Facebook page that maligned Congress President Sonia Gandhi, terming it as “unacceptable’! How loyal!!

More than this there may be personal revenge. He is on the negative list of ‘e-Annas’, who left no public space for Sibal. From social networking sites to IITs, he has been ‘blackened’! He did enjoy the support of these netizens before the anti-corruption movement. But the Tharoorian syndrome catches him fast. He went on with his twit-twit! Being a lawyer by profession, he thought as if arguing in front of Judge. But this was public court, the mob court. He soon found himself at the accused’s place. Sibal like, tried to justify the treatment given to Anna Hazare with 'very decent' words. However, the Indians were furious to see such simple, soft spoken, dhoti lad ‘Grandfather’ being treated in such 'decent' way. Sibal’s stars started realligning. Once shining, Sibbal now turned upside down. He became target of public ante with others like Chidambaram, Tiwary.

So the move to take revenge is somewhat anticipated. But his 'head down position' may not have changed much, as he is ridiculously thinking cheaply. Gaging on Social media! This will be futile attempt. The idea itself is so unrealistic and unfeasible, leave apart its execution. The opposition is quick as expected. The netizens are, in their own style, taking on Sibbal. Some comments –

“Who is Mr Sibal to decide what is appropriate for public consumption. Are we going Pakistan way to ban facebook. This is height of arrogance. Nobody can criticise me or my bosses. For a change do something positive Mr Sibal. Then you or your bosses need not have censor anybody.”

“Welcome to new democracy!!!!! or is it demoCRAZYYYYYY. First sign of failure of a government is to curtail freedom of speech :) Good work Mr. Sibal.”

“India competing China on censorship at last having failed on other fronts.”

But there are people who knows the wrong things on social media -

“Every time I have noticed vulger comments by my FB friends, I have commented. I would rather prefer such social intervention than censorship. A community ethics should be developed by free thinking community. If the spirit is right, the community knows how to regulate itself.”

The congress and its leaders are competing for making self-goals. Sibal like persons are adding to their trouble. Waiting for Diggi to declare “RSS hand in Social Networking!”

"Our" Islamist - Brahma Chelleney

The article link

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/chellaney21/English

My Comments - Great point Sir! The US policies in Middle East is paying back now with dividend. The US, rather than correcting its mistakes, is still vandalizing the domestic politics of these countries. The petrodollars are the major source of funds for the terrorist organisations, the terrorist training center and the terrorist socialization centers like madrases. The growing Arab influence is undermining the local Islamic cultures in other countries. The replacement of Urdu by Arabic in India is good case in point.

The response to such growing extremist by nation-state is also problematic. Rather than understanding basic cause and de-linking this Arabic support, National govt responds in short sighted ways. Some responds by going to other extreme ends by stereotyping whole of the Muslim communities. Others, trying appeasement politics. India is case of second response. I never understand why the Indian Muslim population becomes important factor in foreign policy formulation when it comes to Pakistan or West Asia. Is the National Interest differs for them?

The Egyptian military's fateful choice : Fareed Zakaria

Fareed Zakaria - The Egyptian military has been trying to carve out a special role for itself, which in effect places it above the law and above the democratic process in Egypt.

This is a terrible idea. It is essentially subverting the Egyptian revolution. Civilian control of the military is one of the hallmarks of democracy.

Egypt has two choices moving forward. It can go down the path of Turkey, where the military’s privileged position has been reduced and placed under constitutional constraints and democratic, civilian government. Or Egypt can follow Pakistan, where the military exists as a law unto itself controlling vast swathes of the economy.

It is pretty clear which is a healthier society. Turkey is a booming, democratic country that has become one of the great growth stories of the world. Pakistan is a completely dysfunctional basket case that survives only because it gets aid from the United States (and that aid is largely given for fear for what would happen if Pakistan collapsed).

Ultimately, the Egyptian military needs to understand that the cost of trying to hold on to all its perks is that Egypt will become a deformed, malfunctioning democracy. That’s a steep price to pay.

http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/22/zakaria-the-egyptian-militarys-fateful-choice/

My Comments - Good Read Fareed! But I am still confused with so called Arab Spring for Democracy! My ground knowledge may be limited. But how can one explain the growing ascendance of Muslim Brotherhood or Salafist? These people, by any means, can't be called as DEMOCRATIC.

India is classic guide for these countries to follow. It is great experiment in Democratic history, but didn't let westerners to define its secularism! So dear Egyptians, you are proud country, don't get lure by West or Al-Qaeda . Listen to you heart, and make Egypt proud again!

But I am More puzzled about the reactions here on your comments about Pakistan! Let apart the Aid proportion and Pak Army's intention, just look it at neutrally. Just analyze it on the basis of four basic component of State - Populations, Sovereignty, Government and Territory. Do Pakistan have all of them. I am of the firm opinion that Pakistan is failed state. The current 'Memogate' scandal is classic case - The President asking US to save him from his Military!