Tough Time ahead Anna

Having supported Anna Hazare and the people of India against the way our parliament and the government has functioned all this while, I must now take a different direction.

The UPA government has agreed to discuss, indeed debate, the issues raised by Hazare’s group and those of Aruna Roy and of Jaya Prakash Narayan (the AP MLA). Most certainly under rule 184 of parliamentary procedures, which requires VOTING.

Till now, only the Congress, the largest party in the UPA government, has had to bear the brunt of opposition and criticism. The Opposition Parties have managed to side-step the issues and have revelled in the acute discomfiture of the Congress and the PM’s team till now.

Now they can not. They have to take a stand on the issues, point by point, and the mechanics step by step. And the stand will be public. That is, known to Anna, his team, all of us his supporters, and a much larger section of the people-- who have been spectators—than the undeniably large numbers who have been on the streets and in the media-glare.

What happens if the Opposition parties have views on the inclusion of the PM, quite similar to those of the Congress? After all, isn’t the opposition hoping to have its own government and PM at some future time? Will any MPs and PM want themselves under the scanner of a powerful and independent LOKPAL?

Will any one want to commit themselves to time frames via a citizens’ charter?

Will…

Let us all, including Anna Hazare and team, wait and watch.

Will parties issue a whip? Or will they tell their MPs to let their conscience speak?

Let us all, including Anna Hazare and team, wait and watch.

Will Sibal and Advani stick to their positions?

Let us all, including Anna Hazare and team, wait and watch.

AND Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan… please be aware that NOW you have a bigger task than before. Once there is indication that the Opposition Parties have their own reservations against your draft, then…

Ask them the uncomfortable questions you have asked the Congress-led UPA.

Go on a fast to help them change their minds.

Gherao them, protest against them, continue sitting in at the Ramlila Maidan and the places in other cities across India.

That’s when your credibility will be established beyond doubt. You may still be called fascist. But your intentions on this issue and the visible support of the people will have enough justification.

Tough time ahead for your team, Anna, meaning all of us. Once and for all, let us establish our credibility and the power to lead the governments in a direction that is truly democratic and people-friendly.

Good luck to the Opposition Parties.

Good luck to ourselves, Anna. Back in 2 days, then.