The ongoing anti-corruption struggle is justified by the noble objective of curbing corruption

Objectives of any struggle varies with those undertaking or organising the struggle by participation, support, motivation in cash, kind or moral.

Therefore, an objective analysis of the objectives of any struggle will make it clear the real objectives behind the struggle.

Here in the instant case, Team Anna may have 'the protection of the present system from failing' as an objective for undertaking the struggle. It is the result and the part of their subjective thinking or wishful thinking.

Objectively, this struggle against corruption weakens the present system (of social production and private appropriation) as without corruption it cannot continue private appropriation any more. The falling rate of growth of trade, profit and often falling trade and profit themselves have landed the system in a dire crisis. The share market cannot be sustained with a falling profit or profit rate. The crash of the share market is imminent with the falling profit or profit rate. So, the system is sought to be sustained by artificially showing that the system generates profit. It resorts to primitive accumulation of assets to show that asset is added by the corporates. Such assets, the values of which are shown on the income side, the balance sheet becomes profitable. This is a fraud. Actually, these assets are not generated by capitalist mode of production. They represent the social assets. But for this loot, naked plunder, the system would have been in a mess, nay it would have collapsed decades back. This fraud of the present system is manifested itself in the scams. This ongoing struggle is against the corruption which is integral to capitalism. Hence the struggle is objectively against the system, against the subjective ideological position of the participants to the struggle. This contradiction is being unfolded through the struggle itself.

This struggle itself is a manifestation of the internal contradiction of the capitalist system.

The contradictions of 'social production and private appropriation' are giving rise to the spectrum scam, sale of PSUs, transfer of natural resources which are all part of the primitive accumulation of capital and the premium profit (if at all any profit is there, it is due to illegal and immoral syphoning of assets from primary and secondary sectors of the economy) made by IT companies, new generation industries including financial and insurance sectors etc. Among the supporters of the existing system, very few are the direct beneficiaries. Vast majority are those who support it because of the indirect benefit accrued out of the system, like those who got employed, those who got self employment in the fields like trading, transportation etc due to the capitalist expansion. Initially, in the early days of capitalist expansion they are really benefited out of it and do not find fault with the system. But, as it advances, with the indirect and direct exploitation intensified by the direct beneficiaries, the indirect beneficiaries feel the pinch and they start fighting against these naked exploitation, swindling of public money and plunder of social assets. They will naturally be wishing to retain the system, but making it in their favour. They may not think of a system change at that stage. The agenda of system change comes to their priority only when they realise that they are unable to cleanse the system.

Naturally, the Civil Society Activism we see today is of that type.

It is quite natural that internal or foreign vested interests may try to take advantage of the struggle, in these days of sophistication. Even the ruling establishment or the ruling class itself may try to utilise these struggles to take advantage or to contain the same to a limited extend so that the system is not challenged, act as a 'safety valve', to pre-empt any serious struggle, as explained by some left intellectuals.

It is true that the unholy elements will be able to take advantage of such apolitical struggles if it is left to itself. It is here that the participation of masses lead, intervened and guided by the revolutionary class, the proletariat, equipped with the well defined ideology and philosophy, the revolutionary principles becomes critical. It is happening.

The left has been on struggle path against corruption all through the past decades. After the 'India Against Corruption' movement started and the state, when, resorted to undemocratic means to crush the movement, the 9 secular opposition parties came out in support of the democratic rights of the 'Civil Society'. The LDF in Kerala supported the protest action of the 9 parties. Later on the 9 parties on their own came out on to the streets with a day observation against the corruption. Most of the progressive organisations including the working class movement like CITU has gone on solidarity action in support of the anti-corruption movement.

The CPI(M) has come out with a comprehensive document listing a set of measures required to curb corruption. This amends and modifies, but at the same time , complements the CSA draft by making the demands more comprehensive and not in any way contradictory in its objectives.

The struggle is advancing in a very positive note.

Joseph Thomas