The Debate Stretched Too Far!!

1. As CIC we need a person of high caliber and integrity and not a relatively little known public face. But sadly enough Ms Bedi fails in this count. I am not questioning about her caliber as no body ever can, but I have to say that now-a-days she is flooded all over the TV channels some where advertising for anti-old age creams, somewhere presiding over a court (“Aap ki kacheri” one of the weirdest shows ever) and some where judging contestants (“Lead India” last year). I am just waiting when she gets an opportunity to sit on the panel of talent hunt program!! No disrespect intended.
2. Many people say CIC should be activist and should be manned by a daredevil. Ms Bedi is a daredevil no doubt, but the post of CIC does not warrant a daredevil. It needs a person with calm composure who can understand nitty gritty of the bureaucracy. RTI is not for the citizen alone; it is for governance as a whole and Ms Bedi’s track record shows she is more of vanguard than a justice. (Remember her polemics and emotional outbursts in the reality shows. I presume them to be true expressions and not a media to rocket the TRP.)
3. Finally, CIC is a purely government post and government has the right to post anybody. Garnering a support from the civil society, of which Mr Amir Khan is the representative (and I am really sorry to be the member of such a civil society whose representative is a film star, with due respect to Mr Khan) is grossly unethical. My respect for Kiran Bedi makes me believe that she dislikes it more than I do. (and I really wish my belief is true)

We don’t need an activist as CIC but we need a pragmatist. The BABU’s are not lethargic, they are pragmatic personalities and CIC is no prize post for retired bureaucrats. All the BABU’s ever posted to the position are man of principles and known in their circle as the stalwarts of the steel frame and always are away from the public glare unlike our Ms Bedi’s anti-old age campaign. Let us pray we need a CIC a rational person and not a highly decorated and highly publicity seeking daring dare devil.

(These are personal views.)