Everyone, even the Govt, is concerned about corruption and black money, but all are groping in the dark about what to do

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. This adage seems to fit in well with the inaction against corruption, black money, sleaze and under-hand deals.

Social activist Anna Hazare and his supporters have been pressing the government for a Lokpal bill which should constitute an ombudsman to deal with corruption. The government successfully dealt with him and deflected the initial snowballing attention on Anna Hazare by going through the rigmarole of the committee system, which otherwise can be called a delay tactic.

Now another popular figure, Baba Ramdev, is putting the government on tenterhooks. He would have nothing short of getting back all the black money parked abroad by individuals, institutions and entities and declaring them as national assets.
He has already announced a fast-unto-death from June 4 for realizing his objective. But it seems a difference has cropped up between Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev over the corruption issue. Anna wants the Prime Minister, legislators and the judiciary to be brought under the purview of the Lokpal.

But Baba Ramdev is against roping in the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal. It seems the government has got its first token of success in breaking the all-round support garnered by the civil society representatives.
But suppose Baba Ramdev goes ahead with his fast against black money. That would be a pain-in-the back for the government. No wonder Senior Ministers like Pranab Mukherjee, Kapil Sibal et al are tailing Baba Ramdev for an audience, to try to discourage the Baba from undertaking the fast.

It is a good sign that the government is aware of the fact that the people will gather around well-meaning leaders in society who would fight against corruption and black money.

But it seems to be a mystery why the government is not even thinking about consulting countries like the US which had extracted back the black money their people had parked abroad. Advice from US President Barack Obama in this connection may help.