09 June,2011 09:35 AM IST | | Waleed Hussain
So what is it really about a fast that seems to scare a ruling government? Why is it that Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State and Chief Ministers are lining up to stall one man from going on a hunger strike? Why is it that newspapers donate a plethora of pages and newsprint on one person threatening to go on a hunger strike? Every TV channel has a line-up of experts debating 24x7 on the various aspects of the fast-treating it like the commentary of a cricket match!
I have absolutely nothing against any person, be it a civilian, a celebrity, a social activist or a glamorous diva, sitting on a hunger strike. Please be my guest, it is after all the birthright of every citizen in this democracy to put forward his/her view and to protest by any civil means necessary. That is the beauty of this free country that we got from our freedom fighters, many of whom sat on hunger strikes for months, so that we the new generation opened our eyes in a free land.
It's a novel idea to begin cleaning up corruption in the country, but where should we start?
Having said that it really seems unfair to the millions of people who live below the poverty line in this country, and often can't even get one square meal a day. These poor souls were also born in this free country ufffdonly difference is that they do not have the media at their beck and call. They did not have camera crews trailing their every step and reporting on every sneeze and cough that they let out in their air-conditioned pandal. These poor souls don't even have a sheet to cover them in the winter, let alone a roof (read pandal) on their heads.
So why shouldn't honourable mantris then rush to these poor souls and offer them a glass of freshly squeezed room-temperature juice? Forget the juice, the State hasn't been able to provide them with a glass of clean drinking water, a roof for shelter, a job to sustain their families and electricity to fan them during the scorching heat.
Why the double standards in providing attention?
On every election campaign, promises are made to the millions living below the poverty line, and as soon as the ballot is cast, poof goes the inflated balloon of promises. Corruption takes centrestage, and the coffers begin to fill - under the bed, over the toilet seat and in the Swiss accounts.
It's a novel idea to begin cleaning up corruption in the country, but where do we start? Shall we commence chopping at the grassroots or at the top? How about donating some of the Rs 1,100 crore that is stacked up and nicely folded in yoga asans? Or maybe give it all up and become a real sadhu for a change.
Change? Yes, we can.
