Anna Hazare’s Call for Second Independence Struggle

Four topics figure in this book. The first is Participatory Democracy where members of civil need to be involved in governance. This needs to engage intellectual debates at global level in the 21st century. Democracy is rule by laws. When laws do not exist or where existing laws are irrational and imprecise, democracy is weakened to that extent and when in the process of application and interpretation of these laws corruption or influence sets in, democracy degenerates into a form of Banana Republic. The second is the Janalokpal bill. Janalokpal Bill should not be confused with anti corruption law. It is more about independent investigating agency enforcing the said law. Where investigating agencies are under government control they will be misused not only for personal but also for political gains. Sabotage of investigations and witch hunt of innocent are not uncommon. Annually there will be million investigations under criminal, civil and fiscal laws. Administrative enquires and quasi-judicial enquiries will be in equal number. Impartial enquiries and investigations result in discovery of truth leading to prosecutions and convictions or departmental punishments. While, government controlled investigating agencies will not have similar effect Separate independent investigative agency to probe into traditional crimes of the establishment and rich and powerful suggested. The third is amendment to the RY Ad, 1951 to evolve effective criteria for disqualification from public life of all those who are facing criminal prosecutions. Principle of presumption of guilt is the major change suggested for the above Act. The fourth is Black money and authoritarian rule. Democratic institutions are subverted/destabilized not because of peaceful fasts, congregations undertaken by a dozen leaders of civil society, but when the political institutions from Prime Minister to Panchayat President are corrupted or criminalised and where bureaucracy and judiciary are no exception. Our economic institutions get subverted due to black economy and stashing away of black money in foreign banks. Black money finds its way to Terrorists and Maoists threatening our security Institutions. Spreading false views/opinion making, knowingly is a threat to society and is a worse offence than any defined in our laws as such views influence the minds of billion populace. False views poisons thought and decision leading to inaction in passing right laws.