Anna’s threat that he will campaign against the Congress in the five states going to polls early next year unless government pushes through the Jan Lokpal bill in the coming winter session of Parliament has raised the question if he is ready to overlook the fact that the BJP too is involved in corrupt deals, particularly in state like Karnataka where it is the ruling party. Also, in a state like Uttar Pradesh he could well be boosting the poll prospects of a corrupt Mayawati government, by exhorting the electorate to vote against the Congress. The question that has come to the fore is whether Anna is helping the larger anti-corruption cause by giving his movement a political and electoral overtone. Remember that it was the non-political character of his fast in August that has drawn large section of people into anti corruption movement.

Anna should also remember that an important legislation like Lokpal Bill cannot be rushed through under threats. The government has to take into account various versions of the bill, now before the standing committee of Parliament. Anna should not bully Manmohan Singh government into bypassing procedures and norms. It is apparent that Anna’s anti-corruption movement has acquired a bigger objective; to bring down the Manmohan Singh Government. While his earlier agitation was only against corrupt public officials, this time he has targeted the Congress at the centre and in the states. It would be foolhardy to compare Anna’s campaign with the JP movement of seventies which united the anti-Congress parties and brought them to power in 1977. There is no emergency and the opposition parties are not united. The issue is Lokpal bill which the government has promised but the process has to cross many hurdles.

Whatever Anna might say, the fact remains that his actions are different than his words. He has been claiming that he is not supporting the BJP but his actions would only consolidate the BJP’s position. His movement is not at all apolitical. He is sympathetic towards the BJP and it can be seen clearly. The results of the coming UP election would demonstrate how effective is Anna’s call not to vote for the Congress. The general elections are still far away—three years—and wonders if the impact of Anna’s appeal would last till then?

There are fundamental differences between JP’s movement and Anna Hazare’s movement. The basic difference is that while JP was very honest which Anna is not. He has already been making contradictory statements. He had offered to support clean candidates but now says he would campaign even against the clean candidates, fielded by the Congress.

Meanwhile differences have come to the fore in Anna’s camp. Many members of the team Hazare feel that his call to the people not to vote for the Congress evidently means a call to vote for the BJP. Social activist Medha Patkar has gone on record saying that the team was not taken into confidence before Anna made the declaration. She and many like her feel that Anna’s call would have more effect if he told the people to defeat the candidates with tainted records irrespective of party affiliation rather than singling out the Congress. This would mean that support even the corrupt candidates of the BJP but defeat the honest nominees of the Congress. People will not buy this appeal of Anna.

It is to be seen if Hazare’s undoubted success as a social reformer can be replicated when he takes to political street and sheds the pretence of impartiality. (IPA Service)