”Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual; the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country.” -Karl Kraus
Corruption is a dreadful disease, which is immeasurably found in our society. Its ubiquitously existent nature is induced by the mass indulgence of people spreading across all the spheres of administration, which has made it more laborious to curb. People who believe in absolute probity are the worst sufferers at the hands of this plague. Honest people have to confront more problems as they are persistently harassed by corrupt officials, because the individuals who indulge in corruption presume honesty as a threat to the corrupt functioning and the channels of corruption through which it flows. Multi-faceted corruption is present in our society; it includes all sorts of grafts, gifts, nepotism and bureaucratic procrastination. There are many anti-corruption laws/ establishments which presently exist in India. However, they have also failed to curb this menace and are facing unceasing criticism from all the quarters of society. These organisations are as well, off and on alleged of corruption and government interference, which is sporadically ensuing in public distrust and suspicion.
We need a law which will stand immune to these aforementioned problems and could book the guilty culprits. An ombudsman that can thoroughly investigate and recommend the grievous punishment; besides, penalising guilty officers (of any rank and stature) for the losses they caused to the public money.
Mr Anna Hazare has launched a nationwide agitation against corruption on 16th August 2011. The person is inspired by the high ideals of Mahatma Gandhi; he wants to exterminate corruption from all the levels of governance, which is a beneficial cogitation and the people of India are supporting him wholeheartedly. There is not any problem against promoting a national cause, but there is an incontrovertible disquiet among the diverse sections of society with his stubborn approach. As we all know that Mr Anna Hazare is on fast from last many days now, he has completely rejected the draft put forward by the Government of India. He wants the draft devised by the civil society members, to be passed in entirety. In India, law making is a protracted process involving many steps, which are to be taken by the prestigious parliament only after the long cognitive process of consultation. Everybody has a right to protest and should strive to posit his opinion before the parliamentary committees in a democratic/ constitutional way, and they can take consensually whatever they find productive for the country without undermining the parliament or the clauses of constitution.
Mr Anna Hazare is a respected person who has always worked for the amelioration of society. This arm-twisting approach of Mr Anna Hazare has coerced the government to act. There can a solid difference of opinion on the approach that he has adopted, but there can’t be any conflict on the cause of uprooting corruption. People are supporting the cause, because they suffer and at large India suffers.
A strong Lok Pal will undoubtedly bring down the levels of corruption and it would work at all the degrees of Governance, starting from the central government to the state government. No law can assure a hundred per cent corruption free nation. Nonetheless, we have to start from somewhere and people unwaveringly believe that a strong Lok Pal (ombudsman) will help in providing the much needed impetus/ Launchpad to debilitate corruption.
By Yasir Reshi
