tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286821619549757823.post8996958506217980189..comments2023-06-21T13:33:18.520+05:30Comments on kriticulture: I'd rather not be AnnaRajesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144914400704668707noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286821619549757823.post-80426690220347456922011-08-26T08:05:46.836+05:302011-08-26T08:05:46.836+05:30On Jan Lokpal Draft: I do not think the question i...On Jan Lokpal Draft: I do not think the question is essentially whether the authority of the Parliament is upheld or undermined. Rather, we need to consider why there is a crisis of representation, why so many Indians feel the Parliament does not perform its 'representational' function adequately. This has a lot to do with the way the political parties actually function, depending on big money, connections, family and coterie interests, etc. If there is real democracy inside the parties and the electoral candidates are not paradropped by the high command, the Parliament may become truly representative of people. Fundamentally, it is therefore a crisis of democracy. The solution lies in more democracy, not less. As for Jan Loka Pal Bill, it does provide for separate Lokayuktas in the states and it does submit the Lokpal to the Parliament's final supervision, even annual evaluation of its work. As it is, anything less than the Lokpal as proposed in this draft may not work in the given conditions. As for its 'draconian' powers, I have read the draft and do not see any such actual threat.But unless we see beyond legislation and address the fast-growing concentration of wealth and concomitant power (which motors and oils the Corruption Machine), it will not be possible to find enduring and long-term remedies.Rajesh Sharmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11144914400704668707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286821619549757823.post-2884760894826002292011-08-25T16:56:40.958+05:302011-08-25T16:56:40.958+05:30Pity on poor crusader! It’s time he should wind up...Pity on poor crusader! It’s time he should wind up and go, at least this is what Roy and Raina suggest. Roy thinks the Anna movement was launched to divert attention from 2G scam; Raina thinks it was a plot to oust Congress from power and put BJP in place. They differ on the (hidden) motives of the movement, but they are sure this is all a drama going on around us. They are quick to point out what Anna has not done and not doing than what he has done and doing. There are corporate corruption, fake NGOs, problems in Udisa and Manipur, Ayodhaya issue, Kashmir conflict, and all that jazz. Why doesn’t Anna talk about it? What burden on wretched old man! Should he call off his movement? Can these commentators tell us what good it would do? I am reminded of one sher of Ahmad Faraz, a famous Pakistani rebel poet:<br />Shikwa-e-zulmat-e-shab se kahin behtar tha Apne hisse ki koi shamma jalate jate<br /><br />I think Dr. Sharma’s comment is a good sample of a constructive criticism.Kapilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286821619549757823.post-24863264422492885652011-08-23T22:13:24.471+05:302011-08-23T22:13:24.471+05:30Roy proabaly needs to consider these provisions in...Roy proabaly needs to consider these provisions in the Jan Lokpal Bill which clearly hold the private/corporate sector also to account:<br /><br />23 (3) If the beneficiary of an offense is a business entity, in addition to the other punishments provided for under this Act and under the Prevention of Corruption Act, a fine of up to five times the loss caused to the public shall be recovered from the accused and the recovery may be made from the assets of the business entity and from the personal assets of its Managing Directors, if the assets of the accused person are inadequate.<br />(4) If any company or any of its officer or Director is convicted for any offence under Prevention of Corruption Act, that company and all companies promoted by any of that company’s promoters shall be blacklisted and be ineligible for undertaking any government work or contract in future.Rajesh Sharmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11144914400704668707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286821619549757823.post-3176287599671451182011-08-23T22:09:57.484+05:302011-08-23T22:09:57.484+05:30Roy proabaly needs to consider these provisions in...Roy proabaly needs to consider these provisions in the Jan Lokpal Bill which clearly hold the private/corporate sector also to account:<br /><br />23(3) If the beneficiary of an offense is a business entity, in addition to the other punishments provided for under this Act and under the Prevention of Corruption Act, a fine of up to five times the loss caused to the public shall be recovered from the accused and the recovery may be made from the assets of the business entity and from the personal assets of its Managing Directors, if the assets of the accused person are inadequate.<br />(4) If any company or any of its officer or Director is convicted for any offence under Prevention of Corruption Act, that company and all companies promoted by any of that company’s promoters shall be blacklisted and be ineligible for undertaking any government work or contract in future.Rajesh Kumar Sharmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286821619549757823.post-23272163203474226212011-08-23T18:32:38.159+05:302011-08-23T18:32:38.159+05:30Sudhir has asked what I think about the Jan Lokpal...Sudhir has asked what I think about the Jan Lokpal Bill. <br /><br />I endorse it fully. But I would like to see these two additions:<br /><br />1. Lokpal should have the power to order a study or survey to be conducted into the implications of an existing or proposed government policy that is likely to substantially create or augment corruption and/or cause harm to the nation’s resources and environment and the people’s livelihood and well-being.<br /><br />2. There should also be a provision for imprisonment for an officer of the Lokpal who indulges in corruption. mere dismissal or reduction in rank is not sufficient deterrent.Rajesh Kumar Sharmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286821619549757823.post-51303878060051110992011-08-23T10:35:38.975+05:302011-08-23T10:35:38.975+05:30sir, though i don't dismiss this whole 'mo...sir, though i don't dismiss this whole 'movement' as a 'safety valve' or an exclusive middle class as it may help to check the 'administrative corruption'( if we don't go into the vicious circle of cynicism)but the bigger concern is the model which in itself is genesis of all greed and corruption. our farmers, adivasis, workers ( unorganized sector) are in miserable condition and this corporate-state is strangulating them. The self-obsessed, myopic ( or rather blinded by this glossy capitalism/ consumerism) middle can hardly understand or empathize with them. The ‘real fight’ will continue and I fear that is not going to be Gandhian.Nirmaljeethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07056796039568974874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286821619549757823.post-71622111182965711342011-08-23T08:13:25.037+05:302011-08-23T08:13:25.037+05:30d bill is gud except dat exclusion of NGOs.....so ...d bill is gud except dat exclusion of NGOs.....so we must nt destroy it by concoctin conspiracy theories.....tho i personally agree she raises sm pertinent points.....a nice catalogue of problems surroundin india.....Jaibeer Singhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286821619549757823.post-36328528846558479162011-08-23T08:13:03.044+05:302011-08-23T08:13:03.044+05:30some of her points are valid.some of her points are valid.Aarttee Kaulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286821619549757823.post-26683581165084425052011-08-23T07:38:27.163+05:302011-08-23T07:38:27.163+05:30The government has all the powers to investigate/p...The government has all the powers to investigate/prosecute corporations, media, NGOs and everyone else. It is the government and parliament, that cannot be fairly investigated/prosecuted because the agencies investigating them are directly under the government. <br /><br />Besides, if the current bill doesn't address those issues, does that mean it shouldn't be passed at all? Are there any issues with the bill itself, other than it not being everything for everyone?Tarun Khannanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286821619549757823.post-73493278292206811082011-08-23T07:37:55.190+05:302011-08-23T07:37:55.190+05:30We are following the Lok Pal Debate and this would...We are following the Lok Pal Debate and this would add to another dimension.Ambuj Sharmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286821619549757823.post-64803922653225891752011-08-22T23:22:00.404+05:302011-08-22T23:22:00.404+05:30i think arunditi roy is what rorty calls an ironis...i think arunditi roy is what rorty calls an ironist who aims not at truth but at self-transformation .annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17990580359458212650noreply@blogger.com