The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : Is the government serious about dealing with corruption?
If we are to believe what Team Anna has wrote in this article, Government wants Lokpal to be a weak, auxiliary body (like CVC) to keep corruption in check against what is Anna and group's vision, that is a strong government independent body to weed out corruption from its roots. Team Anna argues that if PMO is left out of the ambit of Lokpal, it will be another wasted effort. The argument of leaving PMO out of Lokpal's ambit is only to 'cover up' the acts of lower level officials. If nothing else, government's unwillingness to discuss the draft in public or publishing the audio recordings on a public website does arouse some suspicion.
Anna's team has accused the government of showing 'arrogance of power' for their repeated remark (" laws have to be made by the elected representatives of the people and civil society has no role to play").
It is fairly evident that the corruption is deep rooted in this government, that is not completely surprising or even unjustifiable for corruption has its roots in making the politics an enterprise rather than tool for good governance. No government has been so far completely clear of that charge. Those who receive bribes often have paid a hefty sum as an investment for securing that position either as a bribe itself to a higher authority, or have spent huge fortunes for election campaigns. But what makes me rueful against this government is the weak intent it has shown to change this. This government has a very good opportunity to rid this nation of half a century long corruption mess. If it rises to this occasion it will establish itself as a hero and secure its position in the long run. But if it stands in the way of this development, as the writers of this article have put it, will do it on its own peril.
If we are to believe what Team Anna has wrote in this article, Government wants Lokpal to be a weak, auxiliary body (like CVC) to keep corruption in check against what is Anna and group's vision, that is a strong government independent body to weed out corruption from its roots. Team Anna argues that if PMO is left out of the ambit of Lokpal, it will be another wasted effort. The argument of leaving PMO out of Lokpal's ambit is only to 'cover up' the acts of lower level officials. If nothing else, government's unwillingness to discuss the draft in public or publishing the audio recordings on a public website does arouse some suspicion.Anna's team has accused the government of showing 'arrogance of power' for their repeated remark (" laws have to be made by the elected representatives of the people and civil society has no role to play").
It is fairly evident that the corruption is deep rooted in this government, that is not completely surprising or even unjustifiable for corruption has its roots in making the politics an enterprise rather than tool for good governance. No government has been so far completely clear of that charge. Those who receive bribes often have paid a hefty sum as an investment for securing that position either as a bribe itself to a higher authority, or have spent huge fortunes for election campaigns. But what makes me rueful against this government is the weak intent it has shown to change this. This government has a very good opportunity to rid this nation of half a century long corruption mess. If it rises to this occasion it will establish itself as a hero and secure its position in the long run. But if it stands in the way of this development, as the writers of this article have put it, will do it on its own peril.
