The Weak State Made even Weaker: Anna Hazare Breaks the Fine Line of Citizenship

Anna Hazare, the man with good intentions but ZERO knowledge about the causes of corruption, has done his deed. He is capable only of this. And now he has done it. 

Totally circumventing the hard task of getting elected and changing the laws, he first threatened fast unto death. That got him (because this government is SO WEAK) a special seat at the law-making table. That was a big mistake of the Congress government. NEVER let anyone have any independent power in India outside of the Parliament. That is a FATAL mistake.

Once his proposed law did not get accepted by the AUTHORISED representatives of India he once again threatened to fast.

After permission was denied, he insisted he would break the law.  It is totally wrong to bull-doze one's own version of a law down the throat of Parliament, and to threaten to disobey its laws should the Parliament not agree with his approach.

He not only thinks he knows what is good for India (and can impose his views on India without first becoming an MP), he seems to think that he has a birthright to BREAK India's laws and weaken the state – and expect the state to look on, doing nothing. 

What he has done by his actions so far is to set a precedent whereby every lumpen element in India will now use Anna's method to leapfrog to the HEAD of an elected government's shoulder, and to thereafter effectively sideline it. 

What has happened is not good. India is a restive country. There is little capacity to think deeply, and great rush to judgement. Danger now beckons. 

I can almost predict what will happen next:

a) Lumpen elements will rush in, in the thousands.

b) Stupid mistakes will be made by the Police.

c) Someone will get injured or killed by accident.

d) Riots will start.

e) Tens if not hundreds will lose their lives in the subsequent clampdown.

I hope that I turn out to be wrong. This is not a nice thing to predict. But on such matters, history is clear.

Any well-wisher of India will ensure that India is never made EXCITED. No well-wisher of India will ever prompt civil disruption. For innocents invariably lose their lives. 

Sadly, regardless of which of the two Lokpal bills (Anna's or the government's) becomes law, NOT ONE IOTA OF DIFFERENCE WILL BE MADE TO INDIA'S GOVERNANCE SYSTEM. I wish removal of corruption was as simple as passing a bill in parliament. 

At one time I wrote: Do support Anna Hazare but be VERY clear that this won’t solve any problem. Now I withdraw support from Anna Hazare – COMPLETELY.

I have always asked him to CONTEST ELECTIONS, to be a citizen, to do not damage India's democracy. But Anna Hazare is determined to weaken an already weak India. This is something Gandhi would never have done.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this writing are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of League of India, its Editorial Board or the business and socio-political interests that they might represent.

This article was first published on his blog here