In an unprecedented move, the US daily, Washington Post, published a sharply critical article on the Indian political leadership, the Congress Party and India itself. About the present Prime Minister, Mr. Manhohan Singh, it wrote, "India's silent prime minister becomes a tragic figure...... a dithering, ineffectual bureaucrat presiding over a deeply corrupt government."Many political parties are controlled by dynasties. The Nehru-Gandhi family rules in the Congress, the Badals rule the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Chauthalas rule the Haryana Vikas Party, the Thakres rule Shiv Sena, Devegowdas rule JD (U), Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family rule the Samajwadi Party and so on. There are credible allegations of corruption and nepotism against these families and political leaders such as Laloo Prasad Yadav, Ms Mayabati, Bhupinder Singh Hooda amassing wealth far beyond their known sources of income. There is no accountability and investigations and prosecution drag on for decades till the old misdeeds are buried under new ones.

The Governments stand paralyzed by internal contradictions and conflicts of sectarian interests. The law and order in most states is so bad that ordinary people, particularly women, are unsafe. Police who are supposed to protect the people rape women including their female colleagues in police stations. Suspects of minor crimes are beaten to death in trying to extract money.

False cases are used for extracting money or favors. Looting the Government treasuries, misappropriation and destruction of public property continues unabated. Governments at center and states do not bother to implement court orders for years. There is no accountability at any level. All Government servants including those employed on essential services like oil sector, transport and banking go on strike and hold the country to ransom. Agitators block trains, burn government properties and beat up police personnel. Millions of tons of food grain is exposed to weather and allowed to rot while millions of the poor go hungry.

The Government just refuses to act. It is indeed a sad state to be in the 65th year of independence.The Parliament has become a farce. The only issue on which our parliamentarians show unanimity is when it comes to increase their own emoluments and perks. The parliament sittings are reducing every year. There is hardly any debate. The members behave in the most undignified manner and egoistic manner. It is not that people do not know what is wrong. Civil society leaders like Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev have been holding fasts and agitations.

Hundreds of thousands of their supporters, members of "India Against Corruption", have held protests in almost all cities of India. Millions of words have been written and spoken in the media about corruption in high places, about the nexus between the politicians and the criminals, about dividing the country on caste and religious lines in the search of votes that would allow a party to rule the country and enjoy the perks of office. Television channels show advertisements asking people not to vote for criminals and other unsuitable candidates. The right things cannot be done, harsh measures cannot be taken because it may cost votes or annoy coalition partners who are indispensable.

The possibility of economic slavery under the developed nations and their multinationals looms large on the horizon. The situation is perhaps worse than what prevailed when the sons of Dhritarashtra ruled Bharat. Are we going to wait for God to come and deliver ourselves from evil? Or can we try to fight evil in our own little ways? Can the honest politicians and the civil society forget their political leanings and loyalties and come together and assist Kejriwal in saving India? Can the President of India declare internal emergency, dismiss the government, improve law and order and order fresh elections? Can the people of India forget caste and clan loyalties and elect honest and capable people to govern themselves? Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev may be honest.

But they are not politicians. You cannot win battles on valor alone. You need good general or leaders, you need an organization and you need a viable strategy. Can the honest people of India, political leaders, intellectuals and professionals, the youth and the aged forget their egos and come together and support Kejriwal in his efforts to clean up our political system? Kejriwal may not be Lord Krishna but he seems to be the only hope at this moment.