TV WATCH
August 2011. Week 4
Anna Hazare wins the battle against corruption |
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Belief in a leader was all that people in India and especially youth were
looking for and they found the same in Anna Hazare. For all twelve days their
new leader with selfless service, stood like a rock on empty stomach to get his
demands approved by the parliament. During the past week, the media pressure on
the Government was so much that they had to literally bow down, after watching
the entire opposition supporting the social activist and his team.
The media also went on to telecast live, the proceedings in the parliament,
where the speakers belonging to all parties debated over introduction of Lokpal
with the inclusion of important recommendations of team Anna Hazare. The 74 year
old social activist only decided to call off his fast, when the Government
finally sent a written memorandum, stating that they had agreed to include his
points in the Lokpal Bill which was submitted by them to the standing committee.
But, prior to the climax, we saw many politicians getting exposed on TV cameras,
for their stand on the Jana Lokpal Bill. The speaker of Lok sabha permitting
Congress Secretary Rahul Gandhi to speak for more than the required allotted
time and that too at zero hour, clearly showed how the Government used the
speaker's chair for favoring their MP. "It was not a speech on the Lokpal, but
it was almost an address to the nation," was the reaction coming from many
experts who were at the end of that day, called upon to express their views on
the day's happenings on various Marathi news channels.
Looking at the non stop TV coverage from the Ramleela Maidan, Delhi, it clearly
indicated that the media was with the common man. The overwhelming response to
team Anna only kept on increasing day by day and it spread very fast to other
cities of India. The rallies of people from all parts of India and the candle
light march at various places was a common sight on television screens. Finally,
the time came when the parliament decided to take up the bill for discussion and
late in the evening it was decided to send a letter to Anna Hazare through an
emissary - Vilasrao Deshmukh. But, before that we witnessed many Political
leaders of different parties speaking for and against the bill. Majority of them
agreed for the introduction of Lokpal bill but expressed their concen about the
credibitlity of Lokpal himself.
There was only one speaker - Sushma Swaraj, who in her bold and sensible speech
openly blamed the Government attitude and expressed the importance of the bill
at a time when the ministers of the ruling party were inviolved in many scams.
While few others supported the bill with a rider, no one spoke against the
credibility of Anna Hazare as a person. It was only one parliamentarian, who
showed his true colours by directly speaking against Anna Hazare and expressing
doubts over his fast. But, he received a strong answer from the social activist
in the evening. It was almost like challenging him to sit on fast with him and
suggesting that it wasn't an easy job for those who gave birth to dozens of
children. One thing is sure that this movement initiated by Anna Hazare and his
team was very positive and it literally forced the political class to take note
of people's anguish against corruption.
After Anna Hazare broke his fast on Sunday morning, still the debates went on
the channels late evening. The voice of the people was that Anna had won the
battle against corruption. But, Anna himself called it 'half battle won' before
getting himself admitted to hospital for check-up. The following day was the day
to report on heavy rains in Mumbai and Konkan region. It talked about disruption
of rail and road services and inconvenience to passengers. On the entertainment
front, most of the programmes, which were affected due to the 24 hours non stop
coverage of ongoing agitation, picked up from Monday onwards.
by Ulhas Shirke © MMW
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