Post date: Jan 30, 2011 7:5:3 PM
Enraged by unending incidents of widespread graft in the government, hundreds of civilians from all walks of life hold anti-corruption protests in the Indian capital.
NEW DELHI, INDIA (JANUARY 30, 2011) ANI - Hundreds of civilians joined hands and pledged to work against widespread graft existing in the government during an anti-corruption protest in the Indian capital on Sunday (January 30).
People from all walks of life came out in full support of the Lok Pal or Ombudsman bill and participated in a mass rally.Organisers informed that similar demonstrations were carried out in more than 50 cities across the country to demand a strong anti-graft law.
Social activist Arvind Kejriwal told mediapersons that the government needs to be arm-twisted in order to heal the country infected by corruption at all levels.
"All of us or the public have drafted this law against corruption which should be implemented. This law says that in any case of corruption investigation should be completed within six months to one year and in another one year trial should be completed so that in a time period of one-and-a-half years the corrupt can go to jail, their property can be confiscated and they lose their job. But the government will not implement this law easily until the public pressurizes it. People in the government are the thieves so they won't take a decision to harm themselves, hence we have to pressurize and compel the government," said Kejriwal.
The demonstration was organised on the occasion of 63rd death anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi and saw a strong participation by students, social activists, and legal professionals.
A rally was also conducted which began from Ramlila grounds and concluded at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Kiran Bedi, social activist and retired official of the Indian Police Service (IPS), justified the public outrage demonstrated by the mass protests.
She said that the proposed Lok Pal bill would see to it that the corrupt individuals are nailed and justice is executed.
"When the select committee will get forth their poorly drafted Lok Pal bill then we will bring out our better Lok Pal bill because that is now acceptable by all. This means that they have the power to prosecute and recovery of wealth. Recommendations are being made by a government that is itself embroiled in corruption. This is not acceptable. This will be an independent body and we have emulated the Hong Kong anti-corruption authority and give it an Indian touch. Hong Kong faced similar situations in 1970s like the one here now therefore let's put an end to all this. We have given an appropriate law which has been written by our legal luminaries," said Bedi.
Prominent public figures like Ram Jethmalani and Prashant Bhushan, eminent lawyers, and social activists Swami Agnivesh and Anna Hazare were present during the protest.
Meanwhile a group of seven elderly Gandhian followers began an indefinite fast unto death to protest against the government over its inability to curb corruption.
"They should fulfill what they said and promised in their election manifesto, one is to pass the Lok Pal bill, and confiscate illegal property which is being done by Nitish Kumar (state chief of India's eastern Bihar) in Bihar and third is to refrain from allowing politicians involved in criminal cases to contest elections," said Shardamani Devi, a Gandhian.
The Lok Pal is synonymous to the institution of Ombudsman existing in the Scandinavian countries.
The Lok Pal bill would enable citizens to sue even the Prime Minister for corruption. Successive governments have tabled the bill in the lower house of Parliament on seven occasions since 1969, but the bill lapsed every time for different reasons.
Since the last few months, the Congress-led federal ruling coalition government has come under intense public and political scrutiny for not initiating prompt and stringent measures to quell the financial mismanagement rampant in the system.
Besides the telecom scam, the other political hot potato for the Congress is the Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi in October 2010, with official estimates of $3 billion.
The Games were marred by charges of rampant corruption, dubious contracts and poor workmanship.
Also the 31-storey Adarsh Housing Society, originally meant for the dependants of the martyrs of Kargil conflict, landed in controversy in which several politicians, bureaucrats and defence personnel not entitled for these benefits had owned flats there.