Hazare drives govt into a political corner: US media

Washington, Aug 18 (PTI) Anti-corruption crusader Anna
Hazare has driven Indian government into a political corner,
the US media has said, but a leading paper feels that the
methods being used by the social activist are a recipe for
"anarchy".
The anti-corruption movement of Anna Hazare, his arrest
and his negotiation with the government, gorged wide coverage
in the American media, with the papers saying that the
Gandhian has become a thorn in the side of the government.
"Hazare, a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, is the face of a
nationwide social movement against rampant corruption that has
gathered pace this year after a string of high-profile
scandals. He has become a major thorn in the side of the
government, which is led by the Congress party," The
Washington Post reported.
The social reformer has become an unlikely figurehead for
the fight against corruption in the country, CNN reported.
"He has been able to mobilise public support because
there is so much dissatisfaction with the issue. Citizens have
even created a website -- ipaidabribe.com -- where people can
denounce the corruption they encounter in their daily lives,"
the news channel reported.
"Fueled by obsessive coverage on India's all-news
television networks, the jailhouse protest clearly captured
the imagination of the country, and appeared to have backed
government leaders into a political corner," The New York
Times said.
The Los Angeles Times said the Indian government attempt
to head off a political crisis by arresting a key
anti-corruption activist appeared to backfire when Parliament
walked out and demonstrations erupted around the country.
"In April, Hazare held a five-day fast that garnered
enormous national support and helped make him the public face
of a grass-roots anti-graft fight. It also put the ruling
Congress Party under pressure to pass a controversial Lokpal,
or people's protector, bill that, among other things, would
establish an independent ombudsman able to investigate senior
officials," the paper said.
But the Wall Street Journal accused Hazare of undermining
the Indian constitution, alleging that the methods used by the
social activist are nothing but a "grammar of anarchy".
"Methods of Hazare's kind have no place in a democratic
republic and, as the architect of India's constitution B R
Ambedkar warned in 1949, are nothing but the grammar of
anarchy," said the paper.
"The real issue should be Hazare's demagogic tactics. An
open political system like India's resolves differences
through the ballot box, but Hazare is intent on forcing the
issue by threatening to fast to the death," the daily said.
"Hazare's supporters encourage comparisons to the
emergency rule in 1975, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
suspended constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties. But if
there is anyone who wants to undermine India's constitution
today, it is Hazare," The wall Street Journal said.
"He demands that parliament create the unelected post of
ombudsman, chosen by a panel of worthies, with sweeping powers
to haul up any public official on graft charges, including the
prime minister," the daily said.
"Who will guard the guardian if he begins to engage in
politically motivated prosecutions?" the daily asked. PTI LKJ
ASH