Anti-corruption crusader, Anna Hazare’s close aide and activist, Vishwambhar Choudhari, on Sunday said the Jan Lokpal movement had helped strengthen democracy by questioning the political system and exposing the vacuum of leadership in it.
However, the movement lost face due to the showbiz at the recent hunger strike in Mumbai as the common man could not relate himself to the movement.
Choudhari was speaking on the outcome of the Jan Lokpal movement and the future course of action at a lecture organised by Sajag Nagarik Manch at the Institute of Management Development and Research on Sunday.
He advised Team Anna members to introspect and said the team should bring transparency regarding core group meetings.
Choudhari said, “Our democracy was becoming redundant, but the Jan Lokpal movement involved the common man in the law making process and gave a new dimension to democracy.”
He said, “The first agitation at Jantar Mantar in April helped project Anna Hazare as a cleaner activist who can lead the movement in the country. It gave a shock and a warning to the political system.”
Describing the participation of youth in the movement as its biggest success, Choudhari said, “The Lokpal movement helped mobilise the energy of the youth for strengthening the democracy of the country. This movement will be remembered as a movement to convert youngsters of the country to non-violence.”
However, he warned Team Anna members to keep aside arrogance. “I felt some remarks by Team Anna members were arrogant, and such arrogance can really create a lot of damage to the movement,” he said.
Speaking about the low turnout of supporters at the recent hunger strike in Mumbai, he said, “There was more showbiz at the MMRDA ground than agitation. People could not relate to the movement. We should follow Anna Hazare’s simplicity in our agitation and it’s the time for Team Anna members for introspection.”
“I feel while we are demanding better transparency from the political system, Team Anna members should bring transparency in their core team meetings. I feel the core team meetings should be held in front of the media and others, so that there is transparency within the movement. Else it will lose public support,” Choudhari said.
