Solicitor General of India

The enormous support for Anna Hazare’s campaign sustains on the hope of eradicating corruption. However, the Bill, even if the civil society’s draft were to be accepted, is not designed to do so.

As more and more people join the campaign, sociologists feel that there is large disappointment in store for people who believe or are made to believe that the Lokpal Bill is capable of eradicating corruption.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Social Anthropologist Syed Faisal said: “Corruption is a deep-rooted social malice and not purely political. In that sense, merely pushing for instituting a new system will not achieve its eradication.”

And worse, the new institution, like former Additional Solicitor General of India K N Bhat puts it: “...will be working within an old framework of Prevention of Corruption Act.”

Stating that the Lokpal, will, at best, be another investigating and report submitting agency, Bhat said: “I am for a Lokpal, but I think the civil society must put in more effort to design a more effective system, which I find missing in their draft.”

As for the Centre’s draft, he said: “It is an absolute joke.” Another sociologist, requesting anonymity said: “The public, which is known for its disengagement with the political process, has now found an obvious connection which has brought people on to the streets. But the campaign has been oversimplified. People must know what such a bill is capable of and what it isn’t.”

On the kind of support the campaign is gathering, Bhat said: “A dangerous trend is developing and people sincerely believe that the Lokpal will become a panacea for corruption. They are in for a tremendous disappointment.”

Arguing about how the Centre’s draft is a joke and will not solve anything, he said even the civil society has not been consistent with its draft and people should understand: “...that there are already several investigating agencies in the country.”

Amid such fears that there could be a huge disappointment for supporters of the Bill, hundreds continue to join the campaign, which is, in some sense, changing the face of the nation, whose population is generally averse to take part in such processes.

And the response is same even in Bangalore. However, like sociologists put it: “It is important for the campaign to continue to garner such enthusiasm from people for it to become a movement and really bring about concrete changes.”

Sustenance, the sociologist said, was key for movements. And it requires a movement to get anywhere close to eradicating corruption in the country and not a mere introduction of a new institution.

People, sociologists said, must be willing to continue with the kind of agitation beyond the Lokpal if they want to see corruption out of this country, “...Any social movement needs that kind of commitment.”