ANNA Aug Kranti 2

7/31/2019 ANNA Aug Kranti 2

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ANNAS AUGUST KRANTI

From August 16th to 28th this year the roads and the well-known Ramlila Maidan of Delhi became agogwith a large mass of people involved in a different kind of agitation over an anti-corruption bill. And nowthis December all the MPs have been involved in a great cacophony of words in the parliament with eachpolitical party eager to show how serious they are for an appropriate anti-corruption law. In August the

struggle brought onto the roads of the capital city a large number of people from the upper strata of thesociety-- the traders, middle-class upper middle-class residents, students, youth of Delhi. This was nopreplanned agitation of a political party seeking to carve out its place in some upcoming electoral strugglefor power. It presented itself before the public successfully as an agitation led by the so-called civil-societyoutside the pale of dirty electoral politics. Inspite of prohibitions imposed for all times by the Delhi govtand the police, during those thirteen days, silencing all those objections a large mass of people couldacquire unhindered freedom to come out on the roads. The police force remained as mere spectators.Almost all the established TV channels and newspapers continuously ran a commentary of all the eventsbefore the whole country. That was Anna Hazares India Against Corruption led Second August Krantidemanding that the central govt. adopt their Janlokpal bill instead of the govt. proposed Lokpal bill. ThisDecember the established parliamentary parties most vociferously tried to usurp that mass support arousedby the Anna-led Lokpal agitation in favour of each others party. The UPA aka the Congress Party in themidst of the ensuing debate claimed that denying a constitutional status to the latest govt proposed Lokpalbill the opposition parties are not truly in favour of an anti-corruption legislation while the oppositioncounter-accused that the govt merely wanted to amend the constitution to adopt an ineffective, toothlessbill. Anna and his team have accused the UPA govt of betraying their promises to adopt a strong Lokpalbill. How the working-class will view thisagitation of Anna and his team that have undeniably stirred upthis countrys politics during the recent months and at present what role in respect to it the consciousrepresentatives of the working-class should play that is the topic of discussion of this article.

WHAT HAVE BEEN ANNAS TEAM DEMANDING AND WHAT WERE THE POINTS OFCONFLICT? Briefly the similarities in Annas Janlokpal and govts Lokpal are:

# the public servant i.e. anyone in govt. service or in any association, local authority etc aided bygovt. is made out to be the main perpetrator of corruption ;

# corruption in the main according to both is as defined by POCA i.e. accepting bribe and givingfavours;

# similarity in composition of selection committee of LokpalPM, leader of opposition , ChiefJustices;

# even the latest govts bill this December has provided for mandatory formation of a searchcommittee for selection of Lokpal members as it exists in the Annas Janlokpal;

# PM also included in jurisdiction of both the proposed versions after the latest inclusion by thegovt in its bill. Although in both the bills sanction from the Lokpal bench is necessary to proceed;

The dissimilarities are:# Janlokpal seeks protection for whistle-blowers in addition;# regarding corruption, apart from that defined in POCA, Janlokpal includes offences committed

by elected representatives in respect of speech/vote in parliament, victimization of whistle-blowers,violation of citizens charter;

# Janlokpal in favour of merger of anti-corruption wings of CBI with direct powers ofinvestigation and prosecution; the govts bill does not allow this;

# regarding complaint against Lokpal officials Janlokpal proposes setting up of separatecomplaints authority while the govts bill gives Lokpal itself the power.Thus it can be seen that the govt , other sections of so-called Civil Society such as Aruna Roy-Nikhil Deyled NCPRI, and Anna led team are all unanimous about the necessity of a law establishing a separate


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Lokpal institution to curb and act against corruption as defined in the existing laws of the present system,an institution that had been formally accepted in principle since 1968 but failed to come into existence.The only points of difference that Annas team seeks more than others is (a) it should be independent fromthe govt and the ruling partys influence although their proposed selection committee will also consist ofthe PM, Leaders of Opposition and other bureaucrats of the same system.It will also be dependent on the

President, the higher judiciary like Supreme Court and eminent persons and on Civil Society/ NGO leadersrecognized, dependent and promoted by this very ruling system.(b) they demand more direct powers ofinvestigation and prosecution for the Lokpal by merging relevant wings of the CBI etc. In effect Annasteam want another institution within this same system of rule run by a few bureaucrats, ministers and NGOpeople who are hand-picked or selected from the top and not elected by and answerable to the people butwith more prosecution powers.WHAT IS THE ACTUAL PICTURE OF CORRUPTION?With the disclosure in public of Nira Radia Tapes it became clear that how the big bourgeoisie of thiscountry like Tata, Ambani etc influence and control the govts., decide who will be the ministers and inwhat way the distribution of different ministries in the govts. suits them. A. Raja, the telecom minister ofchoice, with obviously the complicity of the govt. as a whole, obliged the big bourgeoisie by allotting thehighly demanded telecom spectrum bypassing even the norms declared. Can this be termed as merelybribing and acquiring favours unjustly for some particular individual or company? The Supreme Courtitself has not simply declared that the allocation of all 122 licences of 2-G spectrum by the govt. asillegal it has held that spectrum was a natural resource vested with the govt as a matter of trust in thename of the people of India, and it is the solemn duty of the state to protect the national interest, andnatural resources must always be used in the interests of the country and not private interests[The Hindu-03.02.12 Delhi edn.]. Thus surpassing the petty limits of getting individual undue favours through briberyit is a brazen case of influencing the govt., regarding policies and decisions involving national interestfor the acquisition of resources belonging to the public. Is it an isolated incident? No. There has beenprivatization of govt owned or public sector companies at questionably low prices as in case of sale ofBALCO, Modern Foods, etc. The more important fact in these cases rather than the individual cases ofscams on under-valuing of prices or favouring of particular capitalists is the common policy of the govt.and capitalists to hand over numerous valuable resources and production facilities built out of publicmoney to the capitalists at throw-away prices retrenching thousands of workers .

In the case of Tata and the erstwhile left front govt.of West Bengals secret agreement on theSingur project large concessions in tax, cheap loans, land, water, electricity at cheap rates were provided toallure the Tatas---(1) 645 acres of land at lease for 90 years at rs 1 crore yearly duty with 25% increaseevery 5 years (2) 290 acres land @ rs 8000/ acre (3) loan equal in value to VAT or Central Sales Tax @0.01% interest (4) rs 200 crore loan @ 1% interest (5) cheap electricity @ rs 3/unit.which had been keptunder wraps from the public. In this way Tatas were on the verge of mopping up rs 4500 crore of publicmoney while they planned to put in only rs 1500 into the project.[ Bhrashtachar ko kaise samjheSunil-Roshnai Prakashan]. Throughout the country as a part of the glob-lib programme adopted by the govt.similar plans of SEZs, tax-holidays, and concessions are being provided to the capitalists. Public money isbeing spent generously by the govt. for them, often changing or bypassing existing laws.There have beenforest and environment law violations to enable POSCO establish mines and steel plant. The govt. has alsochanged the definition and specific areas of application of the agricultural-loan allowing in an indirect waythe agri-business houses and capitalists to corner even that so-called priority sector loan depriving thepeasants. Loans for trade or industries linked with agriculture have also been included within agricultural-loan. Result , now agri-loans are being distributed from cities like Mumbai to big agri-business companiesrather than to peasants in villages[Falling share of Small Agri-loans-www.indianfarmers.org]. Theconcessions given by the govt to the companies in income-tax, excise, customs duty in the last decade is


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huge. In 2009-10 the reduction in direct taxes was rs40297 crore which was further reduced by 45222crores in 2010-11. Over and above this the state govts. give concessions in VAT, Sales Tax, registrationand Stamp Duty etc. From 2005-06 to 2010-11 in 6 years tax-reduction benefits given to companies addup to rs 21,25,023 crores which is 12 times the amount of 2-G scam.[Bhrashtachar ko kaise samjhe;Corporate Socialism 2-G OrgyP. SainathThe Hindu 07.03.2011]

On the other hand the road has been paved for more and more speculation in the share markets,and commodity markets. In 1992 the Harshad Mehta-Bhupen Dalal share scam involved approximately5000 crore rupees100 times that of Bofors kickback scam.. The Joint Parliamentary Committee foundfive foreign banks--Citibank, Bank of America, American Express, Standard-Chartered, ANZ Grindlaysinvolved and suggested legal action and penalty against them. But none was taken. In 1999 once againthere was Ketan Parekh share scam. Once again the JPC recommendations remained fruitless. Then thegovt through its Income Tax Department moved to probe the Mauritius route of registering companiesand bringing in hawala or black money by FIIs and Indian overseas capitalists to swamp the Indian sharemarket only to back out under pressure. On the contrary, the govt doled out cuts in dividend tax, capitalgains tax, permission to the FIIs to acquire upto 49% equity in Indian companies. Then step by step thesuccessive govts, Congress-led and BJP-led, went on removing restrictions and controls on share-trading.For instance earlier in 1992 the P.V.Narshima Rao govt abolished the office of Controller of Capital Issuesand in no time various MNC companies allotted themselves shares at prices way below the market ratesknown as the Preferential Allotment Fraud of 1993. When the fraud got exposed the regulatory authoritySEBI once again took up the task of re-regulating the preferential share pricing norms but the damage hadbeen done. But wheres the guarantee of an end to such frauds? Even the Bombay Stock ExchangePresident Anand Rathi became part of the manipulations divulging details to international FIIs in theKetan Parekh scam of 1999. Starting from the govt., the ministers, down to the bureaucrats and officialsare in connivance wlth the big capital and their brokers. The sole logic of the govt. has been thatliberalization of bank and share market and financial operations will bring in much-needed capital fromcountries outside developing the economy. The Indian share market and its index Sensex have beenclaimed to have become the indicator of the great strides the country is making in this era of globalization-liberalisation. But in effect the FIIs and Mutual Fund operators and speculators, among them the powerfulforeign FIIs are dominating the scene and reaping windfall gains through unscrupulous manipulations.The govt has arranged for it. Out of 500 FIIs registered in this country only 5 top FIIs control 40% of thetotal portfolio investment in the country. Aprox half of foreign inv that have come is for share trading insecondary market which is nothing but speculation. Any time when they feel that conditions are adversefor their game-plan they arrange for quick flight of capital creating crises similar to the South-Asian andMexican ones. Thus according to one estimate during the last 20 years the country lost 73 lakh crores ofrupees in large scams involving various kinds of these activities.[Financial Frauds& Market Crashes:Casino Capitalism Indian-styleKavaljit Singh; Stock MarketK.S.Chalapati Rao]

The other side of the same story is--- the rampant deprivation of the masses from their rights andeligibilities to livelihood. Even the things declared to be the stipulated minimum guaranteed by thecapitalist dominated state viz. minimum wages, permanency in jobs of perennial nature, PF, ESI alsothose are being snatched away. The rights to protest and organize against these injustices are beingtrampled upon. Still there have been increasing protest agitations against this in Nandigram, Kalingnagar,POSCO Orissa and in the factories in different industrial areas during the last two decades. The obviouscause is rising inequality and deprivation of the masses. Americas Forbes magazine brings out every yearthe names of the richest persons in the world. Busy to project India as a fast developing country it isrepeatedly showing the rising number of dollar-millionaires from India: 19963; 20048; 2011---55.The total officially declared property of these 55 individuals in 2011were 264.5 million dollars i.e.11,13,750 crore rupees[www.investindia.kotak.com---Top of The Pyramid-2011]. There must be large


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undisclosed amounts also. But applying a rough interest rate of 10% on their official amounts theircollective yearly income comes out to be rs 1,11,375 crores which is equivalent to the total yearly incomeof 15 crore Indians. In June 2010 out of 4500 companies registered in the share market 175 companiesdisclosed that the annual income of their 105 top officials is more than 1 crore rupees. Among theseMukesh Ambani voluntarily took a lesser amount of 15 crore rupees! It is amazing that in such an

increasing gulf of inequality and open loot and acquisition of big corporate capital Anna and his team areunable to find corruption beyond bribery of public servants!WHAT DOES THE NATURE OF THIS CORRUPTION SHOW?. There are two important aspects to this:(1) THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS:Can we say that corruptions like 2-G etc are just deviations and distortions brought about by certainpersons? Clearly it is not at all a simple case of acceptance of bribe and dishing away of undue favours bya public servant. In every instance of economic activity at present, be it handing out of natural resources toprivate capitalists, privatization of public sector companies, setting up of new industries or in share orcommodity market speculation, we see the menace of corruption everywhere. The sections involved inalmost all cases are a nexus of capitalists or their brokers, and politicians or bureaucrats of the state. It ishappening throughout the society in different branches of the economy here and in numerous countries ofthe world when the general policy of globalisation and liberalisation is being implemented. The fraud of ITbubble,housing mortgage speculation, the Enron bankruptcy, in America, the South-East Asian andMexican financial collapse, the repeated privatization frauds in numerous countries show all this. And ithas also multiplied during the last decades of adoption of the same policies in this country. What is beingimplemented by those policies? Centralisation of all the means and resources of production into the handsof big monopoly capital, both by dismantling the govt or so-called public-sector and by seizing awaywhatever remains under the ownership of small property-holders. To achieve that, lobbying forprivatisation, getting rights over scarce, expensive natural resources like oil, gas or minerals by hook orcrook, pressure-tactics to set-up labour law-free, tax and duty-free SEZs or their likes and deregulation foropen speculation and gambling in shares, securities and commodities is the order of the day. All these haveacquired special force even in this country in the midst of repeated recessions and stagnations spreadingthroughout the world and the big corporate capitals desperate attempts to break out of it. Obviouslycapitals ages-old thirst for maximization of profit, loot and acquisition of all economic resources,depression of wages, snatching away of livelihood are old methods to achieve that end. But they havenamed it as vikas or industrialisation. In this race of the capitalist class the right of all sections ofpeople of the society on natural resources as referred by the Supreme Court in the recent 2-G Scam casehas no meaning. For them what is meaningful is only that which is necessary for extracting profitsutilizing methods like lobbying, and even deciding who may be ministers, which portfolio---Disinvestment, Telecom, Petroleum etcshould be given to whom. The power of money, of capital,decides everything in present society. No law, institution or regulation has been or is able to stop itsdesperate race for profit. The long history of capitalism has it roots in such methods from its birth. Goldis a wonderful thing! Whoever possesses it is lord of all he wants. By means of gold one can even getsouls into Paradise. Columbus wrote in his letter from Jamaica in1503 in the stage of primitiveaccumulation of capital. He had persuaded the king and queen of Spain to finance an expedition for goldand spices. They had roamed the Carribean islands in gangs looking for gold taking child and women forsex and labour. Too many slaves died in captivity. Similarly in capitalism money itself is a very specialcommodity, an external object, capable of becoming the private property of any individual. Thus socialpower becomes the private power of private persons. Thus gold, money wealth was acquired throughbrutal violence and loot in that stage of primitive accumulation of capital. Marx wrote, If money,according to Augier, comes into the world with a congenital blood-stain on one cheek, capital comes


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dripping from head to foot, from every pore, with blood and dirt.[MarxCapital vol-1 Genesis of theIndustrial Capitalist] Further capitalism from its start thrived on a system of continuous accumulation ofwealth based on poverty of the masses: Gladstone in the British House of Commons, Feb. 13th,1843.Times, Feb. 14th, 1843 wrote It is one of the most melancholy features in the social state of thiscountry that we see, beyond the possibility of denial, that while there is at this moment a decrease in the

consuming powers of the people, an increase of the pressure of privations and distress; there is at the sametime a constant accumulation of wealth in the upper classes, an increase of the luxuriousness of theirhabits, and of their means of enjoyment. (Hansard, 13th Feb.) [Section 5. Illustrations of the General Lawof Capitalist Accumulation A. England from 1846-1866]Trade developed more and more into swindling. The fraternity of the revolutionary slogan was realizedin chicanery and envy of the battle of competition. Oppression by force was replaced by corruption, thesword as the prime social lever by money.[Anti-Duhring-Introduction-General] This is what Engels wrotein 1876-78, almost eight decades after the famous bourgeoisie revolution in France. It has become moreand more true today. Starting from the days of primitive accumulation of capital it has shown us thetremendous greed and bloody thirst for possession of private property and wealth, commodification ofeverything having some use-value, the increasing importance of money and the insatiable thirst to extractprofit from the working masses utilizing these as capital. For this it has continually spread anarchy ofproduction , resulting in more and more cut-throat competition, and constant accumulation of all the richesin the hands of a few to pauperise the multitude of masses. And with the advent of giant monopolies andfurther imperialism as a system of rule of monopoly capital it has played and is playing to this very dayhavoc with the lives of the masses in every corner of the world through war, corruption, speculation , andoutright loot of all the natural resources of the world. No legislation, no investigative journalism exposingsuch ills as in the early 20th century in America called muckraking, no stringent anti-corruption law ormeasure even in those hey-days of capitalism could eradicate it. It only helped furthering their mission ofloot and exploitation often legitimizing many things which were once considered corrupt or putting up afaade of progressive reform only to hide the roots of corruption inherent in capitalism.

Today,worldwide, bribery alone is estimated to involve over 1 trillion US dollars annually. [ wiki]

Corrupt money transferred out of developing and transitional economies is conservatively estimated atUS$20 to US$40 billion per year. According to the World Bank, the cross-border flow of proceeds fromcriminal activity, corruption and tax evasion is estimated between US$11.6 trillion per yearhalf of thisamount is looted from developing and transition economies. [wiki] According to the data provided by theSwiss bank, India has more black money than rest of the world combined. India tops the list with almost$1500 Billion black money in swiss banks, An amount which is 13 times larger than thenations foreign debt, The total black money accounts for 40% of GDP of India. The roots of corruption layin this capitalist mode of productions fundamental motive of blind race for profit

(2) THE WAY THE STATE MAKES IT WORKOn the other end of the chain of corruption lies the capitalist state. Corruption thrives on this ruling systemalso, where the masses have no control over the rulers sitting in power. Among the rulers in power only asection the so-called elected representatives, the MPs and MLAs or those in lower level bodies areelected by the people and that also by an election process dominated by money, muscle-power, falsepromises and hypocrisy of the political parties having vested interests in existence of present system ofrule. The workers, peasants and the common masses are unable to voice their plight. Further once electedthe masses have no control over them over the whole term even if they misuse their offices and go back ontheir promises. In some advanced countries like America the masses have the right to recall suchnegligent, self-serving leaders although the pressures of the capitalists and their power-brokers from thetop rarely allow it to be properly implemented. The latest example is Wisconsin state in the United Stateswhere the govt. sector employees in a movement to save their trade union rights wanted recall of the


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opposition Democratic Party representatives in vain. Apart from the MPs and MLAs are the other organsof state power the bureaucracy, the courts, the police who are the actual executers of the govts policies.Different political parties form govts in succession but these sections of the state carry on the samepolicies and decisions dictated by the capitalists allowing only small changes here and there. The industrialassociations and trade bodies of capitalists continually pressurize and influence the govt regarding this.

And the bureaucracy is also very trained and faithful in moulding different political parties or their leadersin this task of serving the capitalists interests. But Anna and his team instead of revealing the truth aboutthis way of functioning of the state organs make us believe that with a selected team of ex-bureaucrats,judges, NGO or civil society members groomed and patronized by this same capitalist system of rule aninstitution of Lokpal independent from the interference of the corrupt politicians can be established. Large-scale corruptions like 2-G, CWG, Satyam are to them a matter of individual lapse of public servantseagerly waiting for bribes. Thus if after the Bhopal gas massacre by Union Carbide protests demandingarrest of erstwhile Union Carbide official Anderson and proper punitive action against the company hasbeen stifled by successive govtsCongress-led or BJP-led, the TATAs pressurize the Indian govts topministers not to proceed for punishment of the American company but rather settle for some compensationonly, if the U.S. govt. conveyed to the Indian govt to arrange for quick flight from Bhopal on that dreadednight and the Indian govt. obliged , what does Anna and Kejriwal or their illustrious advocate PrashantBhusan find in it? If the IT department probe into FIIs routing unaccounted or hawala money throughMauritius stopped half-way under pressure from those powerful companies and the govt on the contrarystarts allowing them tax reliefs and non-disclosure of identities through cover of Participatory Notes; ifPOSCO can be allowed from top to bottom of the govt and the state officials to make super-profits out ofhuge iron-ore deposits, land, water and pvt. harbour violating environment and forest acts, doesnt stillAnnas team see the open collusion of big capital and the state machinery? All protests and legal efforts ofthe masses to get justice are falling on deaf years.

Our countries ruling class th big bourgeois and their govts have adopted these policies more andmore in tandem with the imperialist financ capital. Wikileaks disclosures showed amongst other thingshow the secrets of corrupt practices like cash-for-votes episodes in Indian parliament are discussed byour national leaders with American politicians.How American and British imperialists pressurize theIndian Govt to extract favour for infamous companies such as Union Carbide, Enron, the British nowover Devas involved in the latest ISRO scam, over the recent selection of French fighter planes for theIndian Air Force.

The revolutionary working-class made valiant efforts in history to establish such workers states onwhich they could exercise their control. In Paris Commune the working masses had the right to recall theirfailed representatives, allowed them salaries only upto the wages of the skilled workers. Compared to thatour MPs are people of much much higher up status. In the 2004 Lok Sabha there were 154 crorepatis, in2009 that further jumped to 300 crorepatis and that also are their officially declared amounts. How canthese people ruling our country realize the tremendous oppressive and exploitative conditions in which theworkers, peasants and toiling masses live through? Learning from the experiences of Paris Commune inRussia, the workers and peasants built a new type of state ---the Soviet, through which both the functionsof legislation and execution were carried out. From regional levels to the national level this was a new typeof workers and peasants state. But still after revolution and formation of the Soviet Union in order tocontinually have a check, control and ensure participation of the working masses on the development ofthe new workers state another special organization Worker and Peasant Inspection was attempted to beorganized. It gradually failed to check the rise of bureaucratic tendencies developing within the Sovietcommunist party and administration officials and with it grew the deviations and distortions graduallyrelegating the heroic working class initiative into the background. That is well-known history now. But allsuch experiences more strongly brings to the front the message that without eradicating bureaucracy and


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with it the oppressive state the establishment of an independent institution controlled and answerable to themasses needs is day-dreaming, which Anna and his team is wanting us to believe. Without a struggle todemolish this capitalist system and establishment of a real state of the workers and toilers corruption cannever be uprooted from society.ANNAS LIMITATIONS: Annas India Against Corruption accepts corruption just as it is defined

within the chapter 9 of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act. It narrows down thedefinition of corruption into illegal dealings and bribe-taking of public servants , their accomplices and theother parties involved in such illegal transactions or favours. The main target is the public servant.

They not only avoid talking about the whole capitalist system breeding and exploiting corruption,they even failed to utter a single word identifying that the capitalists are one of the main pillars of thesecorrupt practices.

Further they have been trying to impose their definition of corruption in such a way as if it isapplicable to all the classes of society equally and at all times. But in a class-divided society evencorruption has differing meanings for the ruling classes and the toilers. To a capitalist bribes andkickbacks are means to win in competitions with their rivals. If POSCO, Essar, or Tata arm-twists the lawand by influence of money-power acquires land and natural resources against the opposition of theinhabitants with the govts. even ready to modify the laws for their benefit, isnt that corruption? Therepeated violations of labour laws, the attempts to invest large amounts of money from workers ProvidentFund and other public funds kept in custody with the public sector organizations in share marketspeculations isnt that gambling with hard-earned public money? The capitalist class and the govt areopenly promoting all these as a part and parcel of their globalisation-liberalisation programme while theirdefinitions of corruption remain restricted in POCA. Anna and his vocal anti-corruption team doesnt sayanything about these that has stirred the masses of this country in the recent times. Not a line has beenproposd against these capitalist policies in their anti-corruption bills. Not a word has been said about thesegovt. policies that are aiding the capitalists.

If Nira Radias trying to influence the govt as a corporate lobbyist is a corrupt practice in thiscountry today, then in the US it is quite widespread and much of it is legally sanctioned. If India alsoadopts that then does that make the practice legitimate? A capitalist will say yes, that is transparency,which we are telling the govt to adopt here also! If what was defined by the capitalists and govt. once asswindling and gambling in their legal parlance is today legitimized in the name of participatory-notesorfutures or derivatives then which definition will Annas team adopt? What is at least declaredlycorrupt and illegal today may be legitimized tomorrow! Does corruption to a worker or a peasant onlymean what has been defined and impressed upon us by this capitalist state? Then whatever has been and isbeing legitimised by this state in favour of the capitalists, Indian and imperialist, such as looting andexploiting the masses, whatever wealth is amassed without any productive work but just by speculation, isthat just?

Then what difference basically does Anna teams proposal have with the govts Lokpal? Both aretalking of setting up another bureaucratic institution through which legal redressals to corruption will beensured by a selected few in the name of the masses and that also through only isolated cases ofpunishments to bureaucrats and public servants as per restricted definitions in their law. What does thefruitless experience of the RTI Act declared with much fanfare show us? With the capitalists at the helm ofaffairs nothing can be achieved.

Rather in the name of independence from political interference the road is being paved forrefurbishing the image of the corruption-ridden system before the masses and ensuring furtherderegulation of govt control. and imposition of direct capitalists control

SIMILARITIES OF ANNA-KEJRIWALS & IMPERIALISTS FIGHT WORLD-WIDE


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penalize abuses if they occur. Their measures planned out are-- Independent & EffectiveJudiciary ;Anticorruption Legislation; Independent Prosecution and Enforcement; AuditOrganization.

This shows the big similarity of Annas teams approach regarding an anti-corruption legislation,the so-called independence of its institution, its sole powers of investigation ,prosecution and so on.

But that theirs more to it for the imperialists (1)On the 6 December news conference, RainerGeiger, Deputy Director of the OECDs Financial and Enterprise Affairs Directorate, and theChair of the OECDs Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions,wereto discuss the impact of the Convention on the global fight against corruption and outline thechallenges facing governments and companies to create a truly level playing field in

todays global business environment. [ Progress in the Worldwide Fight AgainstCorruption01/12/2004]

(2) 20 September 2011Coalition Statement on Promoting Asset Recovery and CounteringLaundering of Corruptly Taken Assets states---The time has come to act.Beyond shedding light on thedevastating impact of grand corruption, the Arab spring has revealed major anti-money launderingdeficiencies, and the huge difficulties of getting the money back even after the dictator has been pushedfrom power. Corrupt money transferred out of developing and transitional economies is conservativelyestimated at US$20 to US$40 billion per year. [www.uncaccoalition.org]

(3)According to World Bank, corruption sabotages policies and programs that aim to reducepoverty, so attacking corruption is critical to the achievement of the Bank's overarching mission of povertyreduction ..Since 1996, the World Bank has supported more than 600 anticorruption programs andgovernance initiatives developed by its member countries

(4) Further it statesThe degree to which powerful elites influence decisions and policy-making of the state (state capture) constraints the implementation of a fair, competitive, honest andtransparent private sector and thus hinders broad-based economic development.The ability ofpowerful economic interests to capture the state can be constrained by:Economic policyliberalization; Enhancing greater competition; Regulatory reform Good corporate governance;Promoting business associations, trade unions, and concernedparties. [WorldBank.2000. Anticorruption in Transition. A Contribution to the Policy Debate.Washington, D.C., p. 50]

If we sum up the imperialist countries plan to save their state structure and economicmission of expanded loot and exploitation from the rising menace of corruption then it is clear fromtheir documents that they want to ensure through their so-called anti-corruption struggle launchedin different regions of the world: (a) an anti-corruption law and institution exactly identical toAnnas teams proposals; (b) so-called independence of such institutions from the ruling statestructure to allay the fear of the masses by resurrecting a sense of justice; (c) creating a trulylevel playing field in todays global business environment which everyone knows means anadvantage to the imperialist countries and their giant MNCs to take control over the world economyin a more extensive way; (d) ensure regain of control through repatriation of secretly money-laundered assets specially from the conflict-torn regions like the Middle-East; (e) ensuring that inthe increasingly aggravating situation of economic disparity and rising dissension among themasses the imperialist designed policies and programs that aim to reduce poverty are not derailed;(f) that the economic liberalization and privation policies do not get derailed in the midst ofrepeated scams in different countries of the world. Rather the anti-corruption programmes are toensure smoother adherence to more liberalized state structures, such as cutting of price subsidies,further doing away with govt control.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222043~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#2http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222043~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#3http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#econmicpolicyliberhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#econmicpolicyliberhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#enhance_great_comphttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#reg_reformhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#goodcorpgovhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#bizassochttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#bizassochttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#bizassochttp://lnweb18.worldbank.org/eca/eca.nsf/General/D74DB51B2D46615D8525695B00678C93?OpenDocumenthttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222043~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#2http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222043~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#3http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#econmicpolicyliberhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#econmicpolicyliberhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#enhance_great_comphttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#reg_reformhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#goodcorpgovhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#bizassochttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPUBLICSECTORANDGOVERNANCE/EXTANTICORRUPTION/0,,contentMDK:20222036~menuPK:384461~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:384455~isCURL:Y,00.html#bizassochttp://lnweb18.worldbank.org/eca/eca.nsf/General/D74DB51B2D46615D8525695B00678C93?OpenDocument


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CAPITALISM ITSELF MUST BE FOUGHT AGAINST BUT ANNAS FOLLOWERS TOE THE LINEOF THEIR INTERNATIONAL COUNTERPARTSThus the Anna-led brand of anti-corruption struggle made to appear like a common struggle for allsections and classes of society is de facto a part of the international anti-corruption struggle launched bythe ruling class of imperialist countries and institutions promoted by them. They are unable to deny the

aggravating problem of corruption throughout the world in numerous countries but are mainly concernedwith the threat it may pose to their system of exploitation and loot in the present era of globalization-liberalisation and privatization. Naturally they project before us as a solution out of this large-scalecorruption in more and more liberalization of economies of all the countries, further withdrawal of thestate from intervention, and establishment of so-called independent regulatory institutions in order torefurbish/ restore the image of the capitalist state, its waning credibility before the masses. Exposing thereal roots of corruption in the capitalist system of production, distribution and circulation has never beenon their agenda.WHICH SIDE WILL THE WORKING CLASS TAKE?The working-class of this country along with the lakhs of toiling masses are already victims of large-scaleattacks on their livelihood. Especially after the adoption of the globalization-liberalisation policies by theruling capitalist class and their govts they are witness to large scale rampant loot and exploitation byIndian and foreign monopolies openly tearing away whatever semblance of protection the constitutiondeclared. The govts are also ever ready to withhold and withdraw restrictions, give reliefs and concessionsor even turn a blind eye to the by-passing and violation of laws to aid the capitalists.. Even in the face ofopposition of the masses the ruling class is unrelenting. After repeated experiences of this what cancorruption mean to these working masses? Simply a law and an institution under these same capitalistsrule just to stop bribing in a society where every sphere of economy, social life, and politics within andoutside the parliament is dominated by these powerful capitalists? Even the capitalists and imperialists arerealizing that the grossly unfair, corrupt actions taken by them has every chance of rousing the massesagainst the oppressive system. In the face of such an eventuality taking the name of the masses of thewhole country Annas team is trying to impress upon us a particular brand of anti-corruption agitationadaptable and acceptable to capitalist morality that has been launched by the capitalists and imperialists towhite-wash and salvage the credibility of their system.

But in a class divided society morality can also be not above class interests. The capitalist thinksthat every and anything should be legitimately purchasable with money and capital for individualaccumulation of wealth and private property. The worker and toiling masses morality look forward to asociety of collective cooperation of all the toiling masses where domination of the commodities, values,money is done away with the removal of the exploitative capitalist system, class antagonisms are removedand with the burial of bourgeoisie vices and class rule a new human morality emerges above all. Till thenthe working-class fights any attempt to impose the ruling-class morals and law within the capitalistsystem. It regards moral indignation, however justifiable , not as an argument, but only as a symptom. Itstask is to show that the social abuses coming to the fore are necessary consequences of the existing modeof production,and to reveal.the elements of future new organization of production and exchangewhich will put an end to these abuses [Anti-DuhringSubject Matter and Method]. Thus neither thegovts stand nor Annas prescription solves the plight of the working-class. The working-class can onlydevelop their class-struggle for liberation from this corrupt, exploitative capitalist system and move aheadto really uproot corruption and its sources by demolishing capitalism.SOME OTHER OMINOUS SIGNSAnnas agitation, its method has brought forward some other ominous signs in this countrys politics to theforefront. A culture of messianism has been reflected through blind Anna worship. Suddenly a solution bya handful of middle-class professionals has been thrust upon with very little discussion of it among the


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masses. A campaign propagating solely catchy slogans of apolitical and some of reactionary religious-nationalist nature was launched mixing up the present bitter truths of capitalist class rule, its exploitationand loot. It is promoting NGO politics with its patron-client relation, the patron being the imperialists andIndian big capitalists providing funds. Indian NGOs collectively received over Rs 49968 crores in foreigncontribution during 5 years from 2005-06 to 2009-10. Lastly the agitation reinforced the idea that a

stringent, authoritarian rule of law through powerful so-called autonomous institutions like Lokpal cansolve the complex problem of corruption, which is much to the liking of the middle and propertied classes.The ripple that Annas agitation stirred up in last April and August seems to have lost wind this Decemberwith a failed show of strength during the latest Mumbai anasan but the influence of such false thoughtsstill prevail in our society, especially in the near-absence of the revolutionary working-class movement,politically and ideologically. It may once again try to rear its head and swim in the confused waters of thepresent unless the working class brings forth the real critique of the present stage of capitalism and itsstate. Preparing for that the conscious elements of the working-class cannot get entrapped in suchillusions..

ANNA Aug Kranti 2

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