Change will not come overnight—but an effective start with Lokpal bill,will commence it in an unprecedented way. This is not to say that the Lokpal bill should not be open for debates and discussions. We need to work together to further improve this bill. But we absolutely reject the govt's version of this bill. Addressing few questions raised by critics on the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Right now I am trying to address few questions often raised, just with the objective of asserting that this bill is not disastrous, the way its being projected.

1) Q.1. Why do we need the Lokpal, when we can do with other reforms gradually. (Thats because our basic structure of political system is faulty, which allows us to be more drenched in corruption..so only reforms wont help, unless there is a structural change in the existing political machinery.)

Indian system helps in nurturing and protecting corruption. The politicians have formed a corruption nurturing system , in which though different leaders differ in ideologies, they stand together in keeping the corruption intact.

Indian political system is run by a handful of big politicians & many of them have a dynasty rule, who decide their party dynamics and only their internal dynamics can determine the PM/CM. While outwardly democratic, the citizens do not have much power in electing the leaders at highest positions. No matter who we choose in our respective constituencies, the bigger leaders in any party are determined by parties’ internal dynamics. Doesn’t matter who we vote for, we will still have a corrupt leader at the top, and even collectively we have no power to throw him off his position. Neither do we have the power to raise an honest man to the top positions, simply by voting in elections.

Economies like USA give much more control to people in terms of electing their real leaders directly. Parliamentary system in itself is failing … add to it India’s complete control of CBI, civil servants & police by political leaders-we are heading to destruction.

We anyways have a parliamentary system, which is not a very good form of governance-now add to it, entire machinery of CBI, police, civil servants….200% controlled by political leaders. Judiciary is supposed to be independent….but the appointment of judges is controlled politically too. There is too much of concentration of power in the hands of leaders we can’t even choose through our voting. Why will the powers not be misused? Since corruption and misuse of power are so heavy at the top, the trickle-down effect will be obviously there….and few reforms cannot change the entire system, which is actually responsible for corruption.

Few reforms can be introduced and might be effective to some extent….but the most crucial thing is to remove this concentration of power—which is the single biggest cause of corruption.

2) Q.2. Lokpal will add to more layers of bureaucracy and red tapism?

Lokpal is not a law making body who has to pass bills, neither does he get involved with functioning of businesses. Lokpal doesn’t get involved in our economic machinery in terms of giving approvals and permissions to business related or other projects. When it doesn’t get involved in that aspect—how will it even affect the economic process, in terms of slowing it down or adding more layers?

Its like saying stronger and effective police and investigation processes will make the economy. slower.

Lokpal is an extension of police force with more powers to it, freedom from government control, and visibility to public. Does a more effective police/CBI, investigation—more freedom from government equal to stricter economy? I don’t think so…

Why not give more powers to CBI and change its structure? I think it has distorted beyond repair. Reconstructing & modifying it, will be more difficult compared to introducing a fresh, unpolluted system.

Also, to address, who supervises the actions of Lokpal? Its the transparency in the working of Lokpal that supervises his actions. A Prime Minister can never be completely transparent in functioning because he is dealing with many other sensitive projects, apart from being involved in investigating for corruption. While a Lokpal, who would exclusively handle corruption matters-can comparatively offer more visibilty to the public over corruption matters. More visibilty to public translates to giving more control to people than to government. Since a third party is investigating govt related cases, the investigations against govt will be more effective...and concentration of power in the hands of govt will reduce, while transparency in dealing with corruption cases will increase. Thus more power to people, and less to government-leading to a more liberated economy.

And as I have stated earlier, better investigations do not add to the existing red-tapism, but save us from it. lokpal is not even involved in the processes which are a part of bureaucracy.

3) Q.3. Process of fasting is undemocratic. Ultimately it’s the government’s job to make laws.

Government, democracy and governments rights and powers are for the people of India-not the other way round. If democracy fails and people of India stand together for a different form of government, we have the right to stand up for it and express our indignation, to the extent we collectively believe in our cause.

We have the right to ask other citizens to join the movement, and force the government to change laws. And if something we believe makes a difference, in calling for attention, then why not.We are doing it peacefully, and if the cause and our commitments have the strength to make other people join the cause, government should respect people’s choice too. A government would not have even noticed the “fasting” or anything— had people’s support not been a part of it. Anna and every other citizen has his choice to fast, to urge , to make their voices heard among people of India. If the cause didn’t have strength and was mere fasting to force something down the governments throats- people of India would not have joined it with so much vigor and commitment. Fasting is just an appeal to make people come together.However, a mere fast, without any substance in its cause cannot make people be committed and join the goal this way.

Its about the people, not about fast—not anyone who fasts can bring people together in this way. And government and parliament’s rights, or even the democratic structure, are not above people, standing together for one cause, for a single objective. Its the strength of the movement that determines whether such fasts are worth paying attention to or not, or whether they call for changes in the government or parliamentary structure or not.