When a retired army truck driver from a little known village in interior Maharashtra, with a reputation as white as his kurta, a smile as innocent as a child, decided to take the supercilious political establishment by is horns, the youth of this country - a generation of ambitious and aspiring youth, sadly deprived of a leader, a face, a spirit - immediately identified to his cause and perhaps shook the very foundation of a government that has been constantly flirting with narcissism and callousness with ease.

Realms of print media, intellectual discussions and newsrooms marveled at how the youth of this country informed themselves of the toothless Lokpal bill the government drafted and the foolproof version the members of civil society drafted. The crusade, with notable consistency, lamented the lack of political will to bring in a legislation that would install pristine accountability in public offices. The youth of today were reminded a forgotten truth – the Lokpal Bill was the most squalid fallout of a legislature characterized by callousness, absence of a sense of realism and most alarmingly, an air of vanity. What the legislature has not realized, or at least, not accepted, is the fact that, the electorate which bestows on them unparalleled power, is powerful enough to revoke it.

Amidst the euphoria of the anti-graft drive, polar opinions, politicization, uninformed attention seekers, to a great extent, harmed and diluted the cause significantly. It was only unfair to a generation which awoke after years of slumber to have their spirits dampened by virtue of being misled. As intuitive and naïve as we as a populace are, we allowed ourselves to marvel at the proposed legislation, a certain reputed and distinguished group developed, and our marvel was a consequence of its severity. Agreed that severity has an inexplicable aura, but it cannot be the unquestioned grading scale to evaluate something.

Perhaps the biggest mobilization of people in more than two decades had today sadly but more so, predictably ended in a slugfest, where character assassination and mud-slinging have taken priority and the issue forgotten, like it always has been. To the credit of the ‘civil society’ representatives, the exasperation of the people has peaked, which has transcended into an unwavering support for everything they do, every word they speak, every stunt they try. It is rather appalling, but not unjustified, that every overture of the Government is looked down upon as ‘fraudulent’. Whenever a minister, armed with a degree earned abroad and a demeanor that is always calm; makes any statement, pungent rebuttals ensue. For the hordes of cynics, the treatment meted out to the minister is vindicated. But a rather more informed and aware section of people would tell you that what has transpired over the last two months is nothing but a gimmick that has severely undermined the constitution and the democratic process. It is the essence of a democracy that the ethics and principles enshrined in its most sacred document – the Constitution – cannot be circumvented or diluted, however compelling be the circumstance.

By subverting the process of legislation to an extent, we have laid down a precedent that has unparalleled potential to invite anarchy in the future. It all seems very glamorous and path-breaking for now, to have a unique committee set up to draft an anti-graft legislation. However, we fail to realize, that in a democracy, the power is vested in the legislature. The dignity of the high offices of the cabinet, the Prime Minister, the upper judiciary needs to be upheld. Though it may sound unrealistic in a system plagued by an endemic of corruption, undermining sounds principles is unjustified. Such quick-fixes are anything but solution to chronic problems.

It is time for us to overhaul the electorate and empower autonomous organizations like the Election Commission, Central Vigilance Commission, and Central Information Commission among others. It is time that these organizations are hauled out their paper existence, given the competent apparatus, adequately empowered and pragmatically mandated. Adding to a complex web of watchdogs is no solution. It is not to be understood that high public offices should be exonerated without scrutiny, by virtue of being the offices they are. Perhaps, the plausible resolution to the immunity provided by way of impractical procedural requirements is to tear down these fortresses. The maze of permissions and sanctions better is rationalized to yield results.

To all the self proclaimed representatives of ‘civil society’, who seem to be engaged in advancing some personal vendetta, blackmailing the government, constantly trying to project it weak – I have one suggestion! Instead of undermining the democratic institutions, maligning esteemed public offices, threatening fasts every other day, serving foolhardy ultimatums to the Parliament, using sensational language – it would be more productive to strengthen and rationalize the organizations. The end is noble, but the means chosen are ignoble.

The standards have to be the same to judge both sides of the coin. If Team Anna enjoys certain delirium in their scathing tirades against the Government and its ministers, then they reserve no moral right to cry foul when the Congress party decides to up the ante and launch a pungent counter-offensive. Where the gloves have been taken off in the ring, it is no holds barred. It is fashionable to take on the might of any establishment! But then, why give up your manhood and shed tears when there is retribution? Anna Hazare himself termed it as the ‘war’ of Independence. Then so be it. I did not empower Arvind Kejriwal to represent me. He doesn’t! I have never heard of Prashant Bhushsan until his father got himself entangled in some CD controversy and he came out in the media to wash his dirty linen! Then how do they represent me?

It is not the cause I am trying to put down. One cannot be so insolent. It is the gimmick I am writing off!