Anna Hazare's fast: a political alternative is a must

It would be wrong to presume that all those who participated, in whatever manner, in Anna Hazare's first and second fast for enactment of the Jan Lokpal Bill, have lost faith in him or his ways. The ways are important because the entire process of fighting for the Jan Lokpal Bill started with the Jasmine Revolution running in the background for inspiration and immediate reference. The Jasmine Revolution of course was successful because almost entire nations communed with the soul of what we can call Gandhian Philosophy or the soul of Gandhi itself.

Why did people actually come out in support of Anna Hazare? Who were these people who took to the streets on Anna's call? And how many of those who came out have actually pulled themselves back and why?

Anna drew support from people from all walks of life. There were students including those from IITs and IIMs, there were working men and women, home makers, children and retired people. Anna's support came both from urban and rural areas and the best part was that there was no communal or class divide amongst those who were supporting Anna Hazare during his first two fasts.

There were infiltrators as well. The RSS planted its people in the movement and also encouraged its cadres to participate. Its leaders openly supported the movement. Everyone could see through their design but Anna Hazare and his team showed a large heart. The soul of the nation was erupting against corruption and no one could have been stopped from uniting with what everyone saw as a national cause. "Whosoever fights against corruption I will stand behind him," Anna declared.

The first tactical error was made by Anna when he praised Narendra Modi's governance. The image of Narendra Modi refusing to accept a skull cap that is identified with Muslims during one of his propaganda fasts in Gujarat defines the man and the way he thinks. How could a nation trying to search its common soul identify with such a man? Forget about Muslims. How could even Hindus identify with such a man?

Lord Krishna in the Bhagwad Gita reveals to the great warrior Arjuna that all paths lead to him: "Like small-small streams ultimately flowing into the sea all paths lead to me."

"The search is not from wrong to right or from something which is untrue to truth. The search is from a truth to a higher truth," said Swami Vivekananda while explaining the beauty of Hinduism at the World religious Conference. So how could a nation of such people identify itself with a man who even refuses to accept the existence of symbols? Majority of those who came out on Anna's call were those for whom the larger truth lay in uprooting corruption. They did not think of themselves as Hindu or Muslim supporters of Anna Hazare.

Baba Ramdev and his supporters also supported Anna Hazare and while trying to keep their identity intact propped up the issue of Indian money stashed in foreign banks and organised a huge protest at the Ram Lila Maidan. The great proponent of Patanjali's Yoga, however, failed to control his ego and failed to submerge himself with the collective cause. He still continues to hob nob with Narendra Modi which naturally brings a smile to RSS-BJP faces.

The Congress-BJP combine has already ridiculed Anna Hazare and his movement so many times. The first two fasts exposed this unholy nexus. Beyond this point it was foolish to fast as no one in his senses can expect plunderers to enact laws that would put them behind bars.

The only way that the proposed 'Jan Lokpal Bill' can become law is through legislation by the Indian Parliament. You will have to fight elections and send people to Parliament who can enact this law.

Fighting elections of course is not an easy thing. The plunderers would come really heard at you. They are already trying their best. They searched the entire life of Kiran Bedi, from the day she joined the Indian Police service and what did they find? That she had benefitted from some sponsored air tickets. Hence she did not have any right to ask for the Jan Lokpal Bill. Look at the comparison that the architects of the 2G scam were making. What they meant by propping up this and other trivial cases against Anna and Arvind Kejriwal was that no one had the right to question them. They would certainly succeed in their design if no one questions them in the electoral field of which they think that they are the masters.

The logical next step is a political-electoral solution to the problem of corruption. Anna Hazare is the best bet. Even if he wants to stay away from elections, his guiding moral force will do the trick. But for that, Arvind Kejriwal will have to take a stand and move forward in the direction of forging right electoral alliances. If Ramdev can join hands with Modi and those who are trying to prop him as the next prime ministerial candidate, Nitish Kumar is waiting to dissociate himself from anything associated with Narendra Modi.

Those who supported Anna Hazare during his first two fasts are getting restless. They could crack up if Anna Hazare fails to provide a political alternative.

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