A Lynch Mob at Headlines Today !

I have been watching and reading every news about Anna Hazare with lots of interest and concern. I am really concerned about the way the Government is trying to throw a Nelson's eye on the whole effort, on one side, and on the other side I am angry at the way the TV channels are exploiting the situation. I was watching a debate on the 16th June in which Rahul of Headlines Today had four persons seated on each of his sides and had invited a good number of the public (not a bad idea anyway).

The two lady invitees on the dias seemed to have the least respect for the invitees in the forum and were critical about their behaviour. One of the ladies even went to the extent of calling the invitees of the channel " a lynch mob" and Rahul remained a silent spectator to this 'elite' comment. Its sad that the elite in India will NEVER understand the fact that corruption affects the poor the most and not them.

P.Uday Shankar

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Governance in Transition says A K Antony

While news about Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare were doing the rounds I was able to fix my eyes and ears on at least two channels which had very good debates about the recent unfortunate events at Delhi. Many of them on the channels spoke their hearts out and it was a sort of a solace for me. What I could not tolerate was the rhetoric from the Government's spokespersons. One voice which came out in a different language and temperament was that of A K Antony's which got lost in the din. A K Antony is one person I have been watching from his Kerala days. You can just count on this gentleman.

Antony remarked on the 7th June 2011, "Our country is passing through a transparency revolution. The walls of secrecy are crumbling in every field: in politics, in administration, in judiciary, in business and even in journalism. The Government cannot stop [it] midway." ( The Hindu)

He then went on to explain that the country, its politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen and armed forces were not ready for this transition, resulting in problems. He went on to say that this transition will eventually take place but at a much later date. Being a man who calls a spade a spade brought out the stark naked truth about the psyche of the country and its countrymen/women which is here to stay for some time now. He is also an angry man like you and me. Frustrated with the magnitude of corruption in all fields at all levels this is the least this honest gentleman could have uttered. I only wish that we had more of his ilk.

P.Uday Shankar.

Good Governance is NOT Taking Sleeping People by Surprise

03-06/11

Anti-corruption movements have now caught the attention of people all over the world. People around the world are not tolerant anymore to lopsided accumulation of wealth by the few who have the opportunity to govern a country and the audacity and clout to stockpile money at home and abroad. During recent times we saw Anna Hazare coming out successful in convincing the Government to draft a bill. He also had to start the whole effort with a fast and had to pass lot of hurdles. Thank God it was all peaceful.

In sheer contrast we now have Baba Ramdev questioning the Government on black money stashed abroad. His approach may have been a bit uncouth for many to assimilate but then he also has an agenda and a good following. What irks me is why did not the government arrest him when he entered Delhi if they believed that he was a “thug” or a “crook”? Why did the Government grovel behind him and then pounce on him at midnight? The Government had taken a great risk by throwing a surprise on the crowd at midnight. Just like the participants from various religions who volunteered to sit with the Baba on the dais, we saw thousands pouring into the Ramlila Grounds. The secular crowd on the dais and the floor was evident of the long burnt hunger of the middle class in India against corruption. I have my own filthy moorings with the cursed middle class. Despite three generations we are yet to wriggle out of the proverbial middle class moorings.

It was indeed very sad to see an unarmed crowd of women, children, old persons, being taken into task at the stroke of midnight. Every learned Indian should condemn this act which is basically an infringement of Human Rights. The most seasoned and level headed response to this Emergency like act came from Mr Santosh Hegde.

Please use this URL to view the video on CNN-IBN:

http://ibnlive.in.com//videos/156810/hegde-disappointed-calls-police-action-inhuman.html

Similarly, many eminent persons have come out in the open to criticise the Government.

P.Uday Shankar.