The Hindu : New Delhi News : Left flays civil society for comments against democracy

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Saturday, Jun 25, 2011
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Left flays civil society for comments against democracy

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Left parties have taken on the Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev-led civil society representatives for their comments that sought to undermine parliamentary democracy.

“Absolutely outrageous comments by some of the civil society leaders are being heard.... questioning the right of the MLAs and MPs to represent the vast millions of Indians. This is nothing else but showing contempt for our parliamentary democracy and also seeking to undermine it,” says an editorial in People's Democracy, the central organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Reject the contempt

The supremacy of the sovereignty of the people had been ensured through the principle of one person-one vote-one value. “It is precisely this unique and most democratic form that these sections of civil society are seeking to undermine. This contempt the ‘civil society' leaders have for the people, the voters and the electoral system must be rejected,” observed the editorial.

It reminded these ‘leaders' that the common voter defeated the authoritarian streak in Indian democracy in 1977 and in 2004 ensured the defeat of the communal forces. “In the final analysis, it is this very electorate that has created conditions for ‘candle-light processions' and ‘hunger strikes' to be undertaken by leaders of the so-called ‘civil society'.”

Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary A.B. Bardhan also found fault with the approach of the Hazare-Ramdev version of the draft Jan Lokpal Bill. “I agree with most of the points in the draft on the bill by the civil society. I do think it can form a basis but those who claim that if Lokpal Bill comes into operation, the country will be rid of corruption are living in a fool's paradise.”

“I have all the respect for them...they are my friends but I want to ask them if they have touched the source of corruption,” said Mr. Bardhan while accusing corporate houses of being “fertile sources” of corruption that flourished due to a nexus with bureaucrats and politicians.

The CPI (M) also criticised the Central government for postponing till August beginning the monsoon session of Parliament that begins in mid-July.

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