Lokpal vs Jokepal

This is the story of two brothers, Lokpal and Jokepal, who did not know that they were brothers because they were long lost in, say, Kumbh Mela. They meet after a gap of 64 years, on the night of 14th August 2011, both returning from their routine jobs in Delhi Metro.

Lokpal (L): Hello there!Isn't it strange that we meet every day but never got to know each other?
Jokepal (J): Yeah it is (measuring his tone and poise at this sudden intrusion of his privacy by this common man)..so I am speaking to Mr..(err).
L : Lokpal...means the representative of the masses (with a smile)
J : Ahh..I see..I have heard about you. Why do your people create so much ruckus, fasting and shouting slogans will not help in the 21st century mate..get over the Gandhi hangover!
L : Excuse me, but our country is passing through very trying times. The credibility of almost every single institution is under attack – judiciary, media, corporate sector, executive, politicians – the people have lost faith in almost every institution. To restore the faith of the people, I stand for the creation of an autonomous independent body that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisages trial in the case getting over in the next one year!
J : Isn't is a bit too overambitious Mr. Lokpal? I mean, this body you are talking about, wields an enormous amount of power that can be misused since it is accountable to no one!
L : Sir, if you could put your trust in similar independent institutions like Supreme Court or the Election Commission, why hesitate on something that might curb a deep rooted menace like corruption?
The train stops at the last station. Both of them get down, without speaking a word. Mr. Jokepal clears his throat, and says
J : Well, why don't you explain me further about this institution of yours? We can walk together, can we..?
L : Sure thing..so the Lokpal will be at the Centre and a Lokayukta would be put in place in each states. Like the Supreme Court, this body will be completely independent of the governments and would constitute some judicial power to grant justice on its own.  Cases made against people accused of being corrupt will not linger on for many years due to any factors. It will ensure that investigations in every case are completed in one year's time. The trial against the accused would also be completed within the next year so if convicted, the corrupt person is sent to jail within two years ensuring quick justice. The loss caused by a found-to-be corrupt person to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction. 
J : Wait wait wait...!!! What are you talking about? I thought you were presenting a slightly improved version of what was presented in 1969 and thereafter, you know the real Lokpal Bill!
L : A bill whose tooth was taken out by your predecessors, making it more of a jokepal that missed the salient features to nab the culprit! (Mr. Jokepal twitches his bushy eyebrows in a threatening fashion, trying to show his displeasure at the insulting use of his name) But before I continue sir, I wish to know whom am I discussing work with at 11pm? :)
J : Ahem...My name is Jokepal! And I get it that you are the one for whom I have to chair an extra committee from my already busy schedule of saving criminals and politicians (all the same, he smirks thinking). 
L : Ohh...Its great that we are sitting together to do this task that all our governments have promised but none delivered as usual.
J : So who all can be prosecuted by this Lokpal bill according to you mister?
L : Everyone! Politicians, bureaucrats and even the Prime  Minister!
J : This is unacceptable! Are you trying to be above the democracy of this nation Mr. Lokpal? You cannot bring the parliament and the judiciary under it? I have a draft of the bill that lay with the government that says that the Lokpal be an advisory body and just forward the complaints to the recepective department. It will not have any right to register and FIR or police powers. Through this bill,  no investigation can be carried out against the Prime Minister, or the offices which deals with foreign affairs, security and defence! I think it is fair Mr. Lokpal, after all we do not want you to be overworked with wrong allegations against these reputed people...(ends with a sly smile)
L : We opted for democracy as our political system. But I have been wondering for quite some time - how democratic is Indian polity? Indian polity has failed to provide solutions to the common man's problems. If a government teacher plays truant or does not teach properly, can the parents do anything about it? Or if a doctor in a government hospital does not treat properly or does not give medicines? What can a poor person do if the ration shop keeper openly siphons off rations? Or what can any one of us do if the policeman refuses to register my FIR or registers a false case against us? 
                     The Lokpal aims to help common citizens by ensuring that the government is penalised for slack work. Any citizen complaining against work not done within the prescribed time by any government office, the Lokpal will impose a financial penalty on the guilty party and the fine will be given as compensation to the complainant. One could also report any case of corruption to the Lokpal like ration being siphoned off or poor quality roads being constructed or the panchayat funds being siphoned off! We also wish that the existing anti-corruption bodies like the CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged with the Lokpal to ensure complete order. The Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician. Then only will this country become corruption free!
J : Some of your provisions are against the basic tenets of the Constitution Mr. Lokpal, and hence it is not acceptable at all! (Shaking his finger) We are the democratically elected representatives, or u can say the true Lokpal (grins), and you are nothing but a self elected propaganda who is trying to demand things that haven't happened in three decades now. Are you trying to suggest that all the people who sat with this bill earlier were incompetent to leave aside these so called 'salient' points..sir?(clears his throat in self admiration his wit)
L : If power leads to arrogance sir, I think you are the perfect example then. You say that you are the true Lokpal, then your first duty should be towards your 'Lok', who have selected you with a certain faith before getting elected. And if having no control over government employees, government funds, government policies is what you mean by democracy, than we surely are one. Just vote once in five years and then plead before the same people who you voted to power? Or plead before the officials who take salary out of your taxes? I am having my way this time, and you have all the time to decide which side you want to be...sir! (folds his hand in namaskar)
J : Are you threatening me? I have heard lots of stories about you from my close friend Mr. Deshmukh...need to learn lessons from him i guess in managing you, huh? By the way, its midnight..we should keep moving eh, it's my birthday and my family will be waiting to surprise me.
L : Ohh, then you must go sir. And happy birthday to you.
They start walking in opposite direction when Lokpal Speaks up loudly, 
L : Isn't it strange that two people born on the same day are today on the opposite sides...do you call this a tryst of destiny?
Jokepal stops and turns to have a better look at this common man who had almost pinned him to ground in an argument, a first in his long legal career.
J : (Pauses for a few uncomfortable seconds before speaking) Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially...
L : (is taken aback by this).... A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment, we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity....


The rest of the speech was understood to both of them. They knew it by heart. It was the speech their mother was given after she gained her freedom from the clutches of the British, the night they were separated. They looked at each other blankly, half excited, half scared at what they had discovered. Yes, they were the two sides of the same coin that circumstances has been flipping since 15th Aug, 1947...They then turned back and continued walking slowly, ready to cross paths soon, but sadly being on opposite sides...

 ( P.S. The Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's ombudsman Bill) is a draft anti-corruption bill drawn up by prominent civil society activists in India, seeking the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body  that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisages trial in the case getting over in the next one year. Its being opposed in the current format by the government and a mass movement has been started. For details, see http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/. The movement is being spearheaded by noted social activists like Shri Anna Hazare, RTI activist Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, retired IPS officer Smt. Kiran Bedi and many more. This bill needs mass support, so as to eradicate corruption from the system. This article has been  written with the aim of generating interest and knowhow among the common man about this bill.)