From LOKPAL TO JOKEPAL

Amid opposition and such a long time, UPA Government tabled the much awaited Lokpal bill in Parliament. As such there were no high expectations from our Government but people were awaiting to see a strong Lokpal bill. UPA was under tremendous pressure for last one year with scams, Lokpal bill, inflation, elections hovering around the '7 Race Course Road'. Timing of Anna Hazare’s fast in Mumbai could not have been better, but unfortunately Anna’s fast was much shorter than the non-seasonal rain in Mumbai.

All eyes were glued on the idiot box since morning of 27^th Dec, waiting for some healthy discussion in the house.  Contrary to that it touched such a low level that it could have beaten the benchmark set by cash for vote in parliament during Nuclear Bill. Lalu Yadav’s mocking comparison of Draupadi’s five husband with CBI’s nine shows seriousness of our MP’s against corruption. Meira Kumar with her typical “Shaant ho jaiye, Baith Jaiye” was the only soft voice being heard in the House.

  After passing the bill in Lok Sabha with such an uncertainty, UPA was facing an uphill task of going through Rajya Sabha. Congress with only 92 seats in Rajya Sabha does not enjoy the same royalty of Lok Sabha. Reaching 122 mark was made more difficult after its allies came in strong opposition including TMC. On the other side of the river, BJP was rowing against their opponents without any clear views, why they are opposing the bill? They were against the bill and the reason for same was that there should be a strong bill. Did they want Standing Committee to join gym classes to make a strong Lokpal?

After such a chaotic situation, we came back where we started the race. After such an intense start, this could have been the biggest National Movement since Independence even surpassing the emergency period. But we lost our lead and we have no one to blame. May be this was the strategy of the Government or the prudence of MP’s that we are still searching reasons behind the failure of the Lokpal bill.