Following the Mahatma:Activists of the Anti-Corruption People's Movement holding a satyagraha against corruption in Kochi on Monday.
KOCHI: Representatives of NGOs fighting against corruption, Gandhian, consumer, RTI, environmental and religious organisations, residents associations' apex bodies, civil servants and people's representatives jointly staged a hunger strike here on Monday, demanding that the government clamp down on corruption with a heavy hand.
The stir was organised by the Anti-Corruption People's Movement at TDM Hall, demanding among other things, the making into law of the Lokpal Bill to fight corruption, as promised by the Centre before August. Prominent among the other demands is the appointment of people with credentials in the soon-to-be appointed Kerala Cabinet and at the helm in universities and PSUs. The movement has also demanded transparency in government functioning and in the handling of funds. It pledged its support to the national agitation against corruption led by Anna Hazare.
Addressing the gathering over the telephone, former Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan pledged his support to the crusade against corruption.
An old problem
Former judge of the Supreme Court V.R. Krishna Iyer, who inaugurated the function, said India has been unable to check corruption and violence over 60 years since Independence. He exhorted people to have concern for their less-fortunate brethren, animals, birds and nature. Former DGP, MGA Ramen expressed shock at increasing tolerance levels among Keralites to corruption. “The youth is so fed up with the vice that they came out to support Anna Hazare's crusade.” Literary critic M.K. Sanu said that corruption must be fought tooth and nail, to cleanse society.
Former Additional Solicitor General T.P.M. Ibrahim Khan said that school and college syllabi must be revised so that the youth fight with more vigour against corruption. “We must introspect how just two lakh British soldiers could rule 20 crore Indians for 200 years. Lakhs of crores of Indian money is slashed away in secret bank accounts abroad, at a time when over half the population is living on less than Rs 20 per head per day,” said another panelist Rahul Easwar. “India's future is in the classrooms and steps must be taken to sensitise the youth on issues like corruption,” said former judge of the Kerala High Court P.K. Shamsudeen, State president of the Kerala Shanti Samithy. Swami Sunil Das spoke of how people must change their mindset that tolerates corruption. “Hands that do good deeds are better than lips that pray. Society needs to revive human values so that people desist from being selfish. Religious rituals are of no value if one does not care for others. Purity of one's mind can wipe out corruption.”Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran was the chief guest at the valedictory function. Former civil servants P.C. Cyriac and Alphonse Kannanthanam too spoke.
Courtesy: thehindu
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