Let us celebrate 8th August as Quit #Corruption Day
Let us celebrate 8th August as Quit Corruption Day
In Press release Veteran Brig K.G.Behl, President, All India Consumers Council Uttarakhand, Dehradun stated that Keeping in view the rampart corruption prevailing in the country, there is no doubt that we have become slaves of Corruption, though calling ourselves Independent and largest Democracy of the World. But the fact remains that corruption has so much engulfed all of us that we cannot move even one step forward in any direction without corruption. We have become so much deeply involved in it that its slaves worst than the slavery we had in British rule. It was foreign yoke and on 8th August 1942, the Quit India resolution was passed against British, at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) at Gowalia Tank grounds (August Kranti Maidan). The draft proposed that if the British did not accede to the demands, a massive Civil Disobedience would be launched. Gandhiji urged Indians to follow a non-violent civil disobedience movement. Gandhiji told the masses to act as an independent nation and not to follow the orders of the British and called upon all to Do or Die to achieve the results. But now the situation is different as we have got our own Govt. and we have to resolve the situation ourselves and we can not ask them to disobey orders or act in a fashion which is harmful to the country. The aim of the movement at that time was to bring the British Government to the negotiating table. Now we are required to bring our own Govt. to come back to the negotiation table to discuss ways and means to resolve the impasse and find out ways and means to end corruption.
Lokpal and LokAyukta Act 2013, is one of the ways to streamline corruption but in addition many more measures are required to be taken to completely eradicate corruption. The present Act can be still modified to meet the wishes of majority of people This movement of Anna Hazare should not go unheeded. We can bring in more issues which are relevant to end corruption in this bill and touch upon certain provisions of the Constitution which are causing corruption and can be amended to set those right. Different commissions can be set under it to bring necessary changes where ever required. It can include judiciary also only for that purpose where ever the changes are required or loopholes need to be plugged. An all Party Parliamentary Committee can be set up for members of Parliament who use corrupt methods but which are treated as privileges of the members within the House. Similarly more powers or teeth be given to certain bodies already existing but are helpless without those powers, like Lok Ayukts in different states, RTI Commissioners, consumer courts etc. They can be given more and equal powers under the Centre rather than leaving those to States.
Every one knows that Jan Lokpal Act alone cannot remove corruption completely and so many other changes are needed. If provision is made under this bill to bring changes to those bodies which already exist under the Constitution and are non functional due to certain lacunas, necessary commissions can be made under the umbrella of this bill to set those right without touching the provisions of the constitution. The aim is to end corruption and to that extent every one agrees. We should not draw rigid lines but work so that some useful agreements could be made for the good of the country for removing corruption.
A decisive battle against corruption has begun. We are not against any political party. We want systematic reforms. We want a corruption-free India. After all, what are the people asking for – a strong anti-corruption law which provides for honest and time-bound investigations and trials that result in jail for the guilty, confiscation of embezzled money and their dismissal from service? We have to find an effective means to set right corruption that a common person faces daily in police, roads, industry, licensing, transport, roadways, municipality, rations, health services, education, pension, provident funds, Panchayat, forest department, irrigation department, etc.
Cooperation of all is required with the pledge that henceforth they will not indulge in corruption. Corruption is nothing but illegal giving or taking of extra money in lieu of some work done.
On this day let us do all those acts which bring awareness to the people and give strength to this movement so that Corruption could be removed from the country once for all.
