The Cong-led UPA government made a blunder of catastrophic proportions by arresting Anna on 16 Aug even before he left his place of residence in Delhi for his proposed fast in JP Park. This has resulted in millions of Indians, the aam admi, coming onto th

IT IS time now that saner reasoning prevails before things go out of hand. Anna is only demanding introduction of his Jan Lok Pal Bill in parliament for consideration in addition to the tooth less Sarkari Lok Pal Bill already introduced by the Congress-led UPA government. It is really appalling as to how much the Manmohan Singh led UPA Government in power was out of touch with the ground swell of anger in people of India against corruption in the country. As of now hundreds of thousands people from all walks of life belonging to both urban and rural background are on the streets along the entire length and breadth of India of their own vocation, demanding implementation of strong Lok Pal Bill and release of Anna. The government in power must realize that this is a spontaneous and dangerous situation, which can be taken advantage of by the lumpen elements or the Jehadis. A small spark or terror attack can cause may hem.

It is time the government in power accept their mistake and open a dialogue with team Anna to diffuse the situation and both sides should sit on the negotiating table. Unconfirmed reports are that this is already happening. Government has agreed to bring in team Annas draft Jan Lok Pal Bill as a private member Bill which could then be discussed in Standing Committee of Parliament along with Srakari Lok Pal Bill. If this happens then the basic demand of Anna’s team is met and he then can postpone his fast awaiting the final outcome of Bill in Parliament.

The onus, then, of producing and passing the strong Lok Pal Bill, will be on parliamentarians of all colors and hues. It is common knowledge that Lok Pal Bill is the first Bill of its kind that's being enacted to bring in accountability in ruling politicians and bureaucracy in 64 years history of Independent India. What wonder then that this bill was not allowed to be enacted for last 48 years by our politicians?  Now also under heavy public pressure a very tooth less Bill has been produced by the Government. Politicians must realize that this crusade by Anna, specially the shenanigans of the ruling party to muzzle the voice of the people in last three days by coercion has angered India as nothing before. They now have no option but to bring in a strong Bill. Lip service will not do.

Basic contentious issues between the Annas Jan Lok Pal and Sarkari Lok Pal Bills are First Anna wants Prime Minister to come under preview of this Bill while government says no. Second, Anna wants judiciary to be included while the government is not ready. Third. Anna desires all Central Government Bureaucracy numbering 1.2 crore should come under this Bill while the government is vehemently against it. Government says only the Class A officers numbering 65,000 should be under it. Others issues like protection to whistle blowers, bringing CBI and CVC under Lok Pal, etc., are matter of details which could be solved after negotiations’.

Anna says that his version of strong Lok Pal will reduce the corruption in India by 65 percent. This can be debated but yes if the entire central bureaucracy is brought under Jan Lok Pal and the entire state bureaucracy under Lok Auykt working on the lines of Lok Pal then a major dent in corruption can be made.

In India every year, Income tax disputes run into tens of thousands of crores. Defense contracts worth billions of dollars are awarded and real estate transactions worth hundreds of thousands of crores need to be entered into the registers of our sub-registrars. It is common knowledge that without paying SUVIDHA SHULK (Facilitation money) nothing moves in the country.

In property dealing and its registration the broker knows exactly how the take would be split as it filters up the system, beginning with the clerk who moves the files around the office, through the sub-registrar, the registrar, the district revenue officer, and on. It is pretty well-oiled, and once the cash had been paid into the machine, it purrs like a German automobile engine. Within an hour every thing can be got done.

Across the world, the final price arrived in a Defence Deal typically has a 10% buffer built in. The Minister who signs off on the deal knows that this margin can be turned into a price discount for his nation. It rarely happens. He also knows the maximum percentage he can kick into his own bank account, and the minimum that needs to go into the party coffers.

In Indian corruption machinery everybody is well-cared for, and paid according to their clout and their pains. There is little incentive for anyone to step out of line and squeal or correct this brazen loot. Even if they do, the system shuts them out very rapidly, and ruthlessly. It is here that Annas Lok Pal Bill is targeting and rightly so. As for the Prime Minister coming under the preview of this Bill it is not a major issue. Similarly if the Judicial Accountability Bill is made strong then even judiciary need not come under this bill.

In the final analysis if the government agrees to include the entire bureaucracy both state and centre in the proposed Lok Pal Bill and makes it strong then it will satisfy Anna also and will make a major dent in the all pervasive corruption in India. The other measures to check corruption are to privatize Railways, Air Ways, Road Ways and Other PSUs.The job of the government should be to monitor these services and not run them. If it wants to run them then it must be in competition with private enterprise.