Dear Friends,
The CAG’s report on the 2G spectrum has proven beyond reasonable doubt that this is a scam of massive proportions involving corruption, arbitrariness, loss to the public exchequer, and abuse of authority at the highest levels of the government involving politicians, civil servants and even corporate
houses. The CAG’s estimate (which was based on the prices paid by bidders in the auction of 3G spectrum) indicate that the Indian exchequer was defrauded to the extent of a staggering `1,52,000 crores!
In the recent past, we have also witnessed the ugly and shameful corruption surrounding the Commonwealth Games and the Adarsh Housing Society scam in Mumbai. These are only a few scams that have seen the light of the day. Not a single day goes without some scam taking place somewhere in the country, and in a growing economy like India, in the absence of adequate safeguards, we can be certain of continued corruption.
Yet, the public debate seems to be focused on superficial measures such as removal of a minister/chief minister, and constituting a parliamentary committee for investigation. While they may be necessary measures in the short run, there is nothing on the anvil to either punish the guilty parties, take corrective measures to make good the loss to the exchequer, and prevent corruption from taking place in the future.
The need of the hour is tangible, decisive action for combating corruption. We took the initiative to create a common platform – “National Campaign against Corruption” to bring together eminent Indians from various walks of life, and like minded civil society organizations from across the country. We aim to channelize the public outrage constructively, and put pressure on the government and political parties to achieve tangible institutional changes for effectively combating corruption.
As part of this effort, from now and upto 9th December (International Anti-Corruption day), we encourage you to write to the Prime Minister (manmohan@sansad.nic.in, pmosb@nic.in) and demand concrete steps to punish the guilty parties and affect institutional changes as outlined below:
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Esteemed Prime Minister,
In the light of the 2G spectrum scam, and evidence of rampant
corruption in many other areas, we urge you to protect national interest
by taking the following measures:
• Cancel the 2G spectrum allocation.
• Get our money back.
• Punish the Corrupt.
Yours sincerely,
XXX
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We encourage you to spread this message and make your friends and associates write to the Prime Minister. He should hear from millions of Indians who are deeply concerned about mounting corruption in the country and want concrete, effective steps to cleanse our public life. We encourage you to visit and sign an online petition to the Prime Minister.
Wherever possible, please encourage young people, college students, and enlightened citizens to send the same message by post cards addressed to the Prime Minister by name at: Dr. Manmohan Singh, R.No.148 B, South Block, New Delhi 110001. Also `1 money order can be sent to the Prime
Minister with the same message. The Money Order will cost `2.25 (`1 + `1)
as MO fee and `0.25 for the MO form), and has the added advantage of someone in PMO having to acknowledge it.
Please ensure that your name, address and email or phone number is listed on your email or post card to lend authenticity to your message.
We will keep you posted on our future plan of action and other developments from time to time.
Warm regards
Jayaprakash Narayan
National Campaign Against Corruption
I HAVE A SIMPLE SOLUTION FOR CORRUPTION IN INDIA:
ReplyDeleteWhen Anna Hazare went on hunger strike you could see the support he got. The whole India got up and supported, you can see how much the people are frustrated with corruption. The reason for India in such a bad state is the politicians. If we have to change the present situation in India we have change the politicians. Is this possible? Yes it is possible. The solution is simple – change in “Election System”.
All politicians once they enter the field then their life is secured forever. We say their term is for 4 or 5 years, no it is forever. The politicians live with dignity & die with dignity in spite of whatever the level of corruption or the bad things they do. They can kill any one; they can siphon out crores of rupees of people’s money still they can get away with dignity.
In our elections we have no choice; we have to choose best of the worst. So people who don’t like any of the candidates have no choice other than not to vote. In our election system we don’t have provision for voting against a politician. The politicians are best utilizing this weakness in our election system. They know that if they don’t make it this time they will make it next time, because the other guy who is elected will not do any good. This way it has become like a gang rape by the politicians on the people of the country, they are taking it turn by turn. And the people are helpless other than to tolerate the rape or there is a saying that “when rape is inevitable it is better to lie down & enjoy” this is the stage we are going in now.
Is the Lokpal bill going to help fight corruption? May or may not be. Instead of complex legislations and committees which are going to end up in failure, a simple fool proof solution is change in election system. What sort of election system should we have? 1. We should have provision in the election for voting against a candidate (Negative voting system). 2. If a candidate gets more than certain percentage of negative voting (say more than 40%) of his total votes he should be barred from contesting elections for ever (means his political career should be closed). These two simple changes in election system will change our country for better. With this change a politician will dare not contest election until he is sure to do good, otherwise his political career is going to be sealed. Also those politicians who are already well settled in the system can be thrown out; this way we can clean the system.
In this election system there is no need to provide proof of corruption of an official (which is always the difficult part in a legal battle). No need of long time investigations and waste of money. Here the people themselves will prosecute the corrupt and not a committee or a judge.
This sort of change needs Anna Hazare style of protest. And I hope the whole country will support this. This is the time when a revolution is taking place in the whole world, why can’t it happen in India? Long live Anna Hazare.
Dr. Narendra Kumar M