Pioneer-DilliBilli-28th.Aug.2011-"HAZARE MAKES GOVT BITE DUST"

"Hazare makes Govt bite dust"

There has not been a single instance where the UPA has been able to break Hazare or his team or find a solution

It is an absolute disaster how the Congress has gone about handling the Anna Hazare situation. It has left almost everybody shocked and bewildered. Every step that the party has taken has been outwitted by Hazare’s team. His team has used Hazare’s image to the hilt and proved that they are much smarter than the Government. Attacking Hazare, his team and his people only helped his case and showed how the Government has been misinformed about the public sentiments and emotions.

Why was Hazare arrested, sent to Tihar jail and then released at 7:30 pm? Why could he have not been put under house arrest? Who were the people behind this Government’s strategy? Why did the Prime Minister not come out in the open and speak on the issue? The seasoned Congress politicians who had isolated themselves from the Hazare issue were asked to step in and settle things amicably. The strategists have not tried to shield the Prime Minister, instead they have been successful in destroying the Prime Minister’s image. In the beginning, at least one thought, that whatever corruption was surfacing in the UPA Government, the Prime Minister was above it all and he did want to punish the guilty. But now he has virtually turned a blind eye towards the demand of the people. If a dialogue had been initiated, the Congress’ image would not have taken the beaten it has received.

Corruption is not new in our country but the scale at which it has risen is shocking. One has to bribe everyone for everything. The Prime Minister has legal minds assisting him on political decisions. Hazare on the other hand has people who are obviously a lot smarter. There is no doubt that the Government is without a direction or focus. They tried everything in their power to break Hazare and his team and failed. Hazare’s strength lies in the huge support he got globally. There are some members of the Union Cabinet who may not ever win an election because of the negative image they have got from this mess. If Sonia Gandhi was in the country the situation would have been handled in a more dignified manner.

And what is stranger is how the Government is blaming the Press for the situation? Can the Government not see the frustration of the people? The Government may be entering the phase of policy paralysis and it has to do damage control if Rahul Gandhi has to head the party in the near future. But one thing is clear — Hazare and the aam admi has crippled the UPA Government. The public is sure that the Nehru-Gandhi parivaar is against personal attacks and is waiting for them to find a solution. The Prime Minister must realise that by keeping quiet he has not only destroyed his image but also the image of the Congress. He and his advisors should at least protect that.

There is a joke doing the rounds these days. When the lady of the house is away, the house is in a disarray. The Congress is in a state of confusion with Sonia Gandhi away.