0.18 Smear campaign  (Page 2/2)

A PIL (Public Interest Litigation) petition by an advocate Manohar Lal Sharma has also been filed today in the Supreme Court challenging the Constitutional validity of inclusion of five civil society members in a committee to draft Lokpal Bill. The PIL also seeks a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into activities of Bhushans. The advocate further pleads contempt proceedings to be initiated against them for denigrating the judiciary.

One thing was clear. Lawyers on two sides have made this a fierce legal battle. Many lines of thinking, exclusive to Indian psyche, are at work today.

The foremost is the belief of self-righteousness. If you are part of the Government, then this thinking is simply uppermost on your mind. During Anna Hazare’s “fast unto death" protest, the Government was really peeved the way civil activists had thrown mud on them – rightly or wrongly. The ploy of CD now has worked in Government’s favor as mud is squarely on the activists face. Sample the remark of Home Minister, P.Chidambram, which sums up the feeling of governing class, He said “This was a season of allegations and he was glad that there was a growing recognition that reputation was also important.” Of course, he assured a free, fair and thorough probe into the alleged fake CD.

Second line of thinking emanates from a very peculiar perception of corruption and honesty in Indian society. Corruption is almost universal in one or other form in the society. It is unlikely that one does not indulge in corruption if given a chance. At the same time, one does not stop criticizing corruption and preaching virtues of honesty. Even the most corrupt can elaborate virtues of honesty for hours together. Under this circumstance, it is impossible for someone to accept that he or she is corrupt unless one is unfortunate enough to be caught by the law. It is a bizarre behavior but true here. In this backdrop, the members of governing class today feel like being exonerated as they are as corrupt or honest as the activists are.

Third line of thinking is that I am as good as anybody else. Shanti Bhusan and Prashant Bhusan are not the only lawyers cum civil activists. Since many of them have missed the bus, they are coming up with stories of their own civil activism while criticizing the present lot. Such is the force of this feeling that one may even consider to oppose the good intent of the issue itself.

A fourth line of thinking is that I am not wrong if you are wrong. It is a bizarre logic but a very powerful ploy employed during political discussions. If one side alleges something against other side, then other side refers a similar allegation against the side making the allegation. For example, consider the discussion on the WIkiLeaks issue of bribing of Member of Parliaments (MPs). As a counter to the allegation, the case of accepting currency notes in Camera by a leader of opposition is referred. In this manner, both acts of misdeed neutralize each other and the current issue of bribing of MPs is conveniently forgotten. Following this thinking, if civil activists are found to be corrupt, then political leaders are automatically absolved of any charges of corruption.

A section of media reported that examination of CD by forensic experts has found it fabricated whereas another section of media reported the allegation that the examination has been done by private forensic labs at the behest of Shanti Bhusan. References and veiled allegations are also made even against Anna Hazare . Digvijay Singh, one of the General Secretaries of Congress, alleged that 50 lakhs rupees (5 million rupees i.e. about 0.2 million dollars) were spent during 4 days hunger strike of Anna Hazare.

One internet blogger concludes the issue with a passionate appeal to political parties : The canvassing against civil activists has been unprecedented. It has come as a shock that even a noble intent can be opposed so fiercely. The turn of events has shifted the focus from corruption to smearing. All pervasiveness of corruption in India is a foregone conclusion. In this light, probing individual integrity is secondary to larger issue of corruption. The individual corruption is subject matter of probity which is supposed to be handled by Government and its law enforcing agencies. The main issue here is about devising a method to stop corruption by public servants, for which there is a general agreement on two sides and there is at least proclaimed understanding and willingness to enforce an arrangement against corruption. Does this political class think that the matter is left as it is and public money is squandered by few manipulators while the millions are unable to have proper meal? Can political leaders, keeping aside their differences, rise to the need of this bleeding nation? It is not a court room battle ground. There are about 120 countries with this kind of bill. Where is the problem? The civil activists are there in the Joint Committee not because they are more or less corrupt or honest, but because the bill is about probity of public servants and presence of civil activists bring credence to the process of framing the bill. Indeed, if the opposition to the implementation of Lok-Pal bill continues like this and the public sentiments are heart, then it only gives the message that there is indeed a concerted design for large scale corruption and there is really something that needs to be kept hidden from public eyes.

In an atmosphere of unending barrage of sinister accusations, an unknown pantry car hero named Pawan Kumar saved lives of 150 passengers by stopping the prestigious Rajdhani Express and alerting people at the nick of time when fire engulfed the running train while making a trip from Mumbai to New Delhi.

Looking at the confusion that has arisen from CD controversy, Anna Hazare wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi asking her to stop “smear campaign” by Congress leaders. In a separate discussion, he also said that failure to meet the deadline for the passage of Lok-Pal bill would invite mass protests by the people.