ANTI GRAFT BILL
It is reported that the Lok Sabha has passed The Anti Graft Bill, with poor
attendence and no discussion, which inter alia provides for stringent
punishment for bribe givers and extends nod of prior permission for
investigation/prosecution of public officials! This practically means
prosecution of the helpless victim who perforce may have to bribe the
powerful public official or be denied the service! This will also hamper
the whistle blower as this Bill will deter complaints against the culprits
who will be safely protected emboldening them to take illegal decisions/
safely indulge in graft! It is not enough to have assets in disproportion
to income but intention to allege is more important! The policy seems to be
protect powerful government officials at all costs, shoot the messenger or
penalize the hapless victim? Prashant Bhushan, Ex CIC and other eminent
lawyers/NGOs call it "Protection of Corruption Bill"! It is hoped that the
President does not give accent or if he does, the Supreme Court will strike
it down as it has done before, on this permission for prosecution business
as unconstitutional! They are also diluting the RTI Act and making atrocious
statements. How on earth can the 1984 lynchings , a one time abberation be
compared to the present almost daily acts of vigilantism and increasing
lynchings? Worse coming! It is reported that Goa Police has been authorised
to monitor all kinds of social media and take necessary action. The
SMM(Social Media Monitoring Cell) , the DGP says is like the SMM Nato Cell
which is an intelligence agency!There is apparently going to be Sentiment
Analysis, map and measure social relations/ social networks, identify
groups in communities....the whole monty under the guise of security!
Wherefore is the right to privacy? Who will police the police ? In our
diverse democracy, it is impossible to speak without hurting someone's
sentiments, imagined or real. This was perhaps OK in Kashmir, but not in Goa
or the rest whole of India for that matter. Notice the many bizzare
statements of BJP netas fanning communal hatred going unoticed/ unpunished!
The tweeting and vocal PM is silent on these subjects. In fact when
Parliament is in session, he is abroad. To most democratically minded and
upright citizens, without mincing words as seen from above, there is a
dangerously facist tendency!
