12 Days of Pressure Rakesh Manchanda, a resident of Delhi provides his perspective on the impact of Anna Hazare led effort.

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Last twelve days that shook the Nation now demands celebration of Peoples Power. Law and its reach never ever got such rainbow attention under public microscope. Celebration is necessary to sustain the new power equation. Break- Fast is going to be a beginning for several Anna Warriors who were fasting simultaneously in different parts of India. Delhi has become a favourite place for `Protest Tourism`. Message is clear without moral pressure people do not work with clear finishing lines. Time Management in Parliaments, in offices in factories and in fields needs human attention. Correction needs to trickle down from top. In Indian Parliament clever politicians blocked voting after Lok Pal debate perhaps due to pressure of hidden masters and corporate houses that runs the country.

Delhi has caught the imagination of the whole world. Unlike recent unrest in London, Israel and Germany triggered by Recession, Delhi ongoing crusade is a bloodless coup to bring mighty government on its knees. Ministers were given a Get-Well-Soon Cards with Roses as the last opportunity to correct their arrogant approach and to bridge their disconnect. Poor are still sitting outside the agitation as the cost of roses and `candle` light procession disqualifies them financially. Eight hundred and thirty million still survive at less then a dollar per day.

Anna Haazare hunger strike and Gandhian intervention is a `new food` for thought. A possible new map for future actions. Much needed cleaning of India Inc as undertaken by Anna Team  is throwing newer challenges and newer `business` lessons. Even the strong governments(Delhi or Karnatka) doing unfair business or blocking fair laws and even brutal police force can be brought on the negotiating table for fair if not equal participation by a non violent movement. What politicians are unable to understand is that that there are no `fixed rules` for common people/middle class to wake up and spontaneously decide to support a Global Crusade against corruption. Those who get `ruled` need to revise their control over the Nagar Sevaks(MPs/Ministers). People  are redefining their relationship with `Netas` who wish to treat voters as their servants and advise them to come back after five years. Commons are engaged with their own daily survival therefore short cuts and outsourcing solutions while getting reduced to `audience` is normal. It is the job of the leaders to `filter emotions` out of this War against Corruption. Leaders blame media to animate and spoil their power equations. Politicians in Parliament demand the speaker in the House to help them understand if they are representatives of the people or are they the Servants of the people ? Empowerment of middle class has galvanised and is shifting the epicentre of the fearful power equation. People definitely want more share of opportunity, a more equal playing field which is only possible by more transparency and lesser corruption. Today`s War against Corruption is to protect the shrinking pockets of poor who also wants to buy good food, good cooking oil and wear good cloths. It shall remain incomplete if unused money and hidden Gold is not brought back from `tax heavens` and from Temples. People at ground zero also need to shown space by Indian middle class. Need of hour is more people`s pressure in shape of civil society, honest media, and honest politicians irrespective of political party affiliations.

Real Sale( instead of speculation profit) and its increase is the only way to increase Real Production in the sick factories and during recession. It is unfortunate both congress and Bjp instead of discouraging speculative profits continue to encourage them and protect them by promising bail outs. Conflict of interest versus common interest of the majority of Indian suffering needs to be fine tuned by honest leaders in their joint collective action. A movement to help see Corruption=poverty=no business opportunity is needed. Fermentation of Anger against corruption and helpless governance is unmistakable. In this background a very strong Jan Lokpal bill can help. This shall be the legislative revolution. `Give and take` community culture in corruption shall slowly get corrected later by more systemic reforms instead of liberalisation and gifting public assets to handpicked few corporate. How the tolerance level of people against corruption shall trickle down at ground zero needs to be seen ? Ground Zero where corruption bullies the food distribution and services like buying, selling of land, licenses, birth and death certificates, school admissions and passport shall be the interesting take away sites for testing and re-testing.

Allow this spirit to be the modest beginning from Delhi & India.

Rakesh Manchanda,
B-5,Gharonda Apartments,
Shrestha Vihar,Delhi-92.
Phone:011-22145369,00919560630404. Posted by collective at September 11, 2011 09:40 PM