Last year, Ralegaon Siddhi village Gram Sabha had passed a resolution on Gandhi Jayanti conferring the title of 'Mahatma' to Anna Hazare, in recognition of his contributions to the nation. Like the people of Ralegaon Siddhi village many in India had started to look another Gandhi or atleast JP (Jai Narayan Prakash) in him. Politicians might have been divided on him and so was media, but none could dare to ignore him.
A day after the “Gram Sabha” resolution was passed, Anna told his villagers that he could not be called Mahatma (Saint, equating him to the father of nation – Mahtma Gandhi). He said to a news agency PTI, "I am a simple Indian trying to follow the path of greats like Gandhiji, Mahatma Phule and Dr B R Ambedkar. People should try to follow the ethics and values of these 'Mahatmas' in their lives to elevate themselves."
Recalling this incidence after ten months one can say that Anna had an intuition of the events to come. Probably he had seen the future or these events were coining some where his mind. Luke response of public during Mumbai show in December’11. Infighting among his core team members. Deserting support of media and indifferent UPA government.
All this led to the events post 23rd July till 3rd of August. This time when Anna team went for fasting, the UPA government boycotted and refused to take notice of the protest. The electronic media which gave uninterrupted 675 hour long marathon coverage a year ago, gave a cold shoulder.
This was the major blow to team Anna, which was under the impression that media needs the realty show at Jantar Mantar to get higher TRP. They forgot that it was their need to get proper focus and publicity to bring in the middle class supporters to reach Jantar Mantar and pressurise the government and other political parties.
Frustrated team Anna this time attacked media too, along with politicians. There is no denial that today’s many reporters and editors are not different from "government babus” and “politicians” in moral behaviour. But, one should not fight at multiple borders. Had Anna’s core team read history, they could take lessons from the debacle of German army in second world war.
By declaring to form the political outfit, Anna has lost the opportunity to be next Gandhi or JP. The behaviour of his team probably will not give him a chance even to reach to the level of VP Singh. When VP Singh came out of Congress and led the campaign highlighting the corruption in Bofors deal, he did not disclose his liking or disliking for any “ism”. It was only later when the fear of growing popularity of BJP forced him to take out the “Ginny of Mandal Commission”. But, later in countering the forces who made him prime minister, he pulled down curtain on his own political career.
The Gram Sabha when conferred mandate of Mahatma to Anna it was hoping that the son of Ralegaan will reform the society and make it corruption free. By personal conduct Anna tried to behave in Gandhian style. But his insistence to reform governance is a misfit to the role. He has done a great job by bringing the issue of corruption to the centre stage. Saints reform the society in the process government can change.
In our democracy, politics runs in a different way. This can be seen from the fact that even when Jan Lokpal bill movement was considered to be a success, Mulayam Singh and his party came back to power in UP with a majority not predicted by and poll pundit. In neighbouring state, Uttarakhand where BJP had passed the Lokayukta bill was routed.
The criteria to vote are not issue based. Team Anna had enough time, they could try to educate people to vote for the honest candidates when five states had gone to poll early this year. That could stop “Raja Bhaiya” and many criminals from reaching Lucknow and become the minister.
Member of team Anna are having different political ideology. To keep them united will be more difficult than is seen in last one year. We have watched many prominent faces leaving the team due to different reasons. Brand Anna is saleable only if there is a solid performing team behind it. The two TV anchors of team Anna can get the headlines, so was Mallika Sarabhai getting in last election, yet she lost her deposit.
Having succeeded in deviating Anna from the focus of corruption, UPA will not hesitate to misuse all its resources, including governing agencies like – CBI, Income Tax, ED and many more to break the moral of the team.
Judiciary will deliver its verdict on false fabricated case after many years, out come of 2014 will come before that in two years. It was an opportunity lost by Anna alias Baburao Hazare. Political Ocean has bigger sharks- can small fish named Team Anna Survive there?
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