Anna Hazare has, once again,
tried to re-organize the disarrayed anti-corruption movement. He chose the
Mahatma’s Martyrdom Day for the occasion. He announced formation of a
‘Jantantra Morcha’ during a rally held at Patna’s
Gandhi Maidan today.
He categorically said certain things
that if followed, may help to make elements of a logical beginning that is
needed to undo the wrongs of the 2011 movement and to sustain the momentum in
the long run. He said:
The organization ‘Jantantra
Morcha’ would be a countrywide organization. The movement of 2011 failed
due to lack of vision. There was more of promising than action on the ground.
There was nothing in terms of strategy and organizational planning in terms of
changing times and changing needs. Once again, Anna Hazare says to tour the
country to awaken the people. He needs to walk the talk this time.
Jantantra Morcha would not
contest elections. Now going political is not a sin, and especially, when
you are pitted against the cunning politicians. But given the fact that it was
the political aspiration of Arvind Kejriwal and some others of the so-called
Team Anna and vagueness over the issue that became one of the major reasons in
derailing the anti-corruption movement launched in April 2011. The internal
differences led the team to split. The bitter infighting between the sections
of Team Anna still surfaces between the ‘Aam Admi Party’ and the ‘India Against
Corruption’ members. Now, clarity should prevail.
Anna Hazare spoke of the
message in clearer terms. He said the outfit would work to awaken the
people. He spoke of key changes. Before the rally, he had spoken of ‘Vyawastha
Parivartan’. He reiterated his call for ‘Jan Lokpal’, ‘Right to Reject’, Right
to Recall’ and ‘Electoral Reform’.
What still goes with Anna Hazare
is his unblemished life. He may lack an enhanced vision that is needed to
scale-up small stirs into mass movements but that is certainly not a handicap.
He could not get the committed lieutenants last time who could have worked like
a bridge for this missing area and that was the basic problem.
The beginning today was not a
hyped one. It was not from a political nerve centre like Delhi. It looked clearer on intent and
objectives.
Much damage has been done and the
common man is humiliated after being duped by the high-tide and low-ebb of the
2011 anti-corruption movement.
Let’s see if this could be a
beginning in the right direction to undo the wrongs committed. Resurrecting the
movement and building on that comes later on.
The rally today and the events
preceding it had elements of the ‘Mahatma’s Symbolism’. But mere Mahatma’s
Symbolism won’t do we have seen it. His methods and teachings need to be seen
in today’s perspectives and need to be followed in letter and spirit.