25 November 2011

SLAPGATE REFLECTIONS


The India Against Corruption (IAC) movement is based on ...
1.  Ahimsa in Thought, Word & Deed.  While the last two might be easy and are generally practised by an overwhelming majority of Volunteers, it is the Ahimsa of Thought that is to be achieved by all, in order to reach higher Conscience.  
2. Satyagrah against existing Systems and Processes of the Government (at all levels) which are based or copies of what the extortionist English left behind and which do not reflect the current and future needs and wants of the Citizens of India.  We must not forget that a simple inquiry will demonstrate that none in the current and the past three generations have been asked what 'systems and processes of governance' are desired. No explanation has been offered and no feedback is sought even today, unless under pressure.  
3.  Avoidance of trap of 3D (which is Deny, Divide & Divert) which has been practiced by all invading powers and adopted by the democratically elected Government at all levels in the nation. The last, that is Divert is like a Bhramaastra, most citizens easily become emotional and get carried away by peripheral issues forgetting the central issue for which an agitation is launched.  
4.  Persistent and consistent use of PAT (Participation, Accountability & Transparency) in all social transactions, such as meetings, activities and agitations. 

The current debate on Slapgate (Shri Sharad Pawar being the new victim, in a series of minor violence cases initiated by anonymous citizens, against prominent persons) seems to look for some scapegoat to pin blame on the reason for the sudden rise in violence in public life.  Some politicians as usual are bent on Dividing and Diverting attention from the central issues which led to the national agitation and, some from the Media have taken pleasure in trying to pin blame on selected Activism movements.  Here one needs to pause and review the events over the past few years and months: growing level of scams of astronomical levels, growing shortages of basics and increasing costs, scuffles in Parliament and State Assemblies so nicely broadcast on national TV, attack on Baba Ramdev at Ramlila Grounds, attack on Prashant and Arvind, episodic humiliation and detention of IAC Volunteers when law and order or corruption issues are exposed.  The use of Governmental pressure, overt and covert, on the Activists behind the IAC movement and humiliating them on national TV, have not gone unnoticed among the citizens of India.  Reactions will follow, all need not be responses, and this should be clearly understood.  India can wait no more … to be heard and given its needs.

Almost one year of IAC activities in Delhi, Mumbai and so many cities and towns of India, have gone by without a single incident of violence or 'situation' requiring police intervention. This is a record for India and for the World; a peaceful movement involving citizens across all sections and sectors, with no 'netas' or 'abhinetaas' is unheard of in the whole world.  Let us not try to pin some blame on Anna or key drivers of IAC without realising that violence originated from the establishment and their power centres.   TEAM INDIA IS WATCHING; STOP THE PLUNDER OF INDIA.