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Great Opportunity, Serious Danger
The Anna Hazare situation invites two common reactions among progressives and those concerned with social change: some dismiss it as a middle class “urban picnic” and others acclaim it as just short of a revolutionary movement to establish “people’s power”. Strategies d iffer on the basis of where one stands on this divide. The problem, however, is that neither of these reactions fully reflect the reality of what is happening.
The Anna Hazare situation invites two common reactions among progressives and those concerned with social change: some dismiss it as a middle class “urban picnic” and others acclaim it as just short of a revolutionary movement to establish “people’s power”. Strategies d iffer on the basis of where one stands on this divide. The problem, however, is that neither of these reactions fully reflect the reality of what is happening.
Our position is focused on what can be done in this situation, and is not meant to defend the government. We condemn the brutal, corrupt and anti-democratic actions of the United Progressive Alliance government and we also condemn the Bharatiya Janata Party and its state governments which portray themselves as crusaders against corruption. The dangerous Lokpal Bill that has been presented must be withdrawn, and a process initiated for e ffective institutions of people’s control that can be used to defeat corruption. We issue this statement precisely to caution against erroneous tactics that are strengthening the very state that we must fight against.
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