Ramdev, Manmohan Singh and the Art of Misdirection

Last week, my Dad and I were driving to a client's place. There was a road around Shree Nagar, Thane, that needed fixing. Like rest of the city, the Government promised to repair the roads before the monsoons arrived. And unlike rest of the city, this road was actually fixed. However my Dad interrupted my moment long relief by asking me to look at the "finishing" of the recently repaired road. It was bad. Huge chunks of stones were lying right next to the road, the place where cars are parked, and pedestrians walk. 

This observation preceded the following conversation:

Me: "Why doesn't the Government do its job properly? If it decides to get something done after all, why not take the pain to do it perfectly?"

Dad: "This is India, beta.

After 160 seconds. Me: "What if people actually went to the local offices of the Municipal Corporation and demanded that their roads be fixed properly, and not budge until and unless the Government agrees to do so?"

Dad: "Then the Government will call for Police and tear gas, and more tear gas."

Me: "- but they wouldn't fix the problem [?]"

Dad: "No. That they won't."

That was more or less the end of the discussion we had. Two days later, Ramdev actually held a fast till the time Government came up with a plan that stated how much Black Money was accounted for, and what would be their next step. Couple of months ago, the Swiss Bank actually conceded to the demand of providing details to the respective governments around the world about the accounts held by the latter's citizens. India was one of them. Astronomical figure of black money was stashed by Indian (take a guess) Politicians, of course. 

Now Ramdev took to this cause. This was in the spirit of the international popularity and praise earned by Anna Hazare's Lokpal campaign. Guess he also wanted a slice of this earnest respect. We all know he enjoys being called the harbinger of prosperity and peace, through Yoga. If the magnificent Judi Dench decided to grace us with her cameo appearance in the latest installment of Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, who are we to judge, really, about people's claim to a few moments of fame? 

A lot of people, including me, thought that Ramdev's move was politically motivated. And let's face it, he can never be compared to a man as saintly as Anna Hazare. Anyway, let's not cloud our perspective. Back to objectivity: so, Ramdev really goes on a fast-cum-rally in New Delhi. Congress tells him that he's on a hit-list of dangerous terrorists. Baba says well, humour me more. Congress then calls the super cops, unleashes tear gas on the thousands of "supporters" of the cause of Yoga/ Ramdev/ Black Money accountability.

This obviously is noticed by the Opposition and they compare the entire incident to be a reminiscent of the Dark Times of Emergency circa 1975-77. Anna Hazare asks what is the difference between the white English and dusky Indians and says the incident is akin to the  Jallianwala Bagh massacre. 

The Congress bites its nails, and then publishes a report on how Ramdev has 34 companies, one of them being a front for supplying popular Ayurvedic medicines, and how the turnover goes up to Rs. 1100 crores. Right next to this report, PM Manmohan Singh is justifying why the tear gas was unleashed on the commoners in New Delhi that night.  

On the same page, there's a small but significant news article that says the Government will not try and "woo" Anna Hazare's team. What did Anna Hazare's Team want? They simply wanted to put the Prime Minister's Office under the Lokpal Bill, and hence under the independent authority to be investigated. What is it about the Lokpal Bill that flusters the Government so much? The irony is Ramdev was supporting the PM on this ground!

I wonder what the Government is really trying to do here. Are they trying to hide the accounts of Black Money holders? Are they trying to show that Ramdev really is not the right candidate to lead this anti-corruption movement? Is the Congress trying to indulge in a massive character assassination of someone who stands up and asks for accountability? Or all of the above? We all know that Ramdev's Rs. 1100 Crore assets is actually peanuts compared to the astronomical figures of Black Money held by one politician at any given point. 

If a country's Prime Minister can go to the extent of actually indulging in libel and slander against someone who demands an explanation, an accountability - which is the Prime Minister's job, by the way - what really can be inferred from this? Agreed, even if that "someone" is not really who he seems to be, the Prime Minister's job is to ensure the welfare of its people and respect the spirit of Democracy. It is indeed a serious problem if the Prime Minister is not on the same side as his country's people. 

So basically, no citizen can really stand up and hold the Government accountable. If I were to do it, the Government will tell me to shut up because I've broken so many hearts, and I drive an Audi and have a bunglow in Alibaug and I killed a rat once in my life and so on. I'd have to be a monk of Mother Teresa's proportion to point a finger at the Government. Probably the Congress will dig up some dirt on me, even then. Kudos, gentlemen and Madam, Chanakya would be proud. 

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