Once the shining light in India's crusade against the corrupt, is Anna Hazare slowly turning into a political yo-yo?
He came as a breath of fresh air in the dank quagmire of India's politics of corruption; he showed that change, once seemingly impossible, was only limited by resolve.
"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it," said Paulo Coelho in his 'The Alchemist'. Anna Hazare proved it.
The 73-year-old activist's three-day fast took the country by storm, and managed to push an anti-corruption bill of, for, and by the people into the collective consciousness of one billion.
But now, two months after that historic fast-unto-death, holes have appeared in the Anna Hazare phenomenon. Anna called his fast the "second struggle for independence". It is now overshadowed by the great Medussa that is Indian politics.
It began with Narendra Modi. During his fast, Anna Hazare heaped praise on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The work done by Narendra Modi (and Nitish Kumar) should be done by chief ministers of all states, the veteran Gandhian said.
This glowing praise drew sharp criticism from media activists and the Congress alike. Digvijay Singh, the Congress general secretary, said, "There is no forum in Gujarat where people can complain against corruption. There are so many other allegations against Narendra Modi and his government, how can he be termed an honest man?"
45 days later, in the eye of a media storm, Anna backtracked.
He came as a breath of fresh air in the dank quagmire of India's politics of corruption; he showed that change, once seemingly impossible, was only limited by resolve.
"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it," said Paulo Coelho in his 'The Alchemist'. Anna Hazare proved it.
The 73-year-old activist's three-day fast took the country by storm, and managed to push an anti-corruption bill of, for, and by the people into the collective consciousness of one billion.
But now, two months after that historic fast-unto-death, holes have appeared in the Anna Hazare phenomenon. Anna called his fast the "second struggle for independence". It is now overshadowed by the great Medussa that is Indian politics.
It began with Narendra Modi. During his fast, Anna Hazare heaped praise on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The work done by Narendra Modi (and Nitish Kumar) should be done by chief ministers of all states, the veteran Gandhian said.
This glowing praise drew sharp criticism from media activists and the Congress alike. Digvijay Singh, the Congress general secretary, said, "There is no forum in Gujarat where people can complain against corruption. There are so many other allegations against Narendra Modi and his government, how can he be termed an honest man?"
45 days later, in the eye of a media storm, Anna backtracked.
0 comments:
Post a Comment