I begin with the following excerpt taken from my email sent to India Against Corruption on August 6, 2012 (about 15 months ago) when some members of Team
Anna had decided to form a political party but the formation of AAP was still
4-5 months away:
"I wish to draw Team Anna’s attention to the following
famous quote: Power corrupts. Absolutely power corrupts absolutely. In the
context of this quote, I think Team Anna’s decision to turn themselves into a
political outfit is fraught with serious adverse consequences for their
anti-corruption crusade… Anna ji and a bunch of his loyalists can remain honest
all their life. But, can they guarantee that the candidates they would choose
for fighting polls would also prove to be diehard anti-corruption
crusaders?"
The above excerpt, if seen in the light of the clippings of
some AAP candidates’ alleged corrupt behaviour which were shown on social media yesterday (Nov 21), proves my fears right. Actually, I believe if fighting corruption is a
mission of a bunch of people being supported by a few lakhs Delhiites, it won’t
succeed. Particularly if you are a new party trying to eradicate corruption by
‘sweeping’ established parties by your 'jhadu’ (broom) out of reckoning. After all,
not all the leaders in the BJP and Congress are corrupt. And, those who are
corrupt can go to any extent to harm you.
Politics is like a “koyle ki kothri jisme Manmohan Singh
jaisa imandaar aadmi bhi kala nazar aata hai.” As far as corruption and
chai-pani culture are concerned, I don’t think that even BJP’s star CMs Narendra Modi, Shiv Raj Singh Chohan and Raman Singh can claim that they have banished these evils from their
states.
The most important requirement to fight corruption
effectively is the political consensus at the national level on the ways to
fight corruption. And, then the strong will of bureaucrats and you and me to
ensure that the political consensus leads to desired results.
If your heart really beats for anti-corruption crusade then please do not follow shortcuts to get your work done in govt offices.
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