Mobilisation for the War on Corruption
Dear Friends,
You may be aware that Common Cause had filed a PIL in the Supreme Court in 1995 to demand the establishment of an effective framework for combating corruption by creating the institutions of Lokpal at the central level and Lokayukta at the state level. The essential features of the legislation for establishing an independent and empowered Lokpal were first outlined in an affidavit filed by Common Cause in this PIL in August 2008. This PIL is at the final stage of hearing.
Meanwhile, in the context of the rampant corruption encompassing all the organs of the state and the failure of the government to put in place credible institutions capable of stemming the rot, the leading lights of civil society have come together to draft a law for the establishment of an independent and empowered central institution for combating corruption at the political and bureaucratic levels. This is in sharp contrast to the toothless advisory body with limited jurisdiction envisaged in the Lokpal Bill being formulated by the government.
A mass campaign is being launched under the banner of INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION to press for the enactment of the Lokpal Bill drafted by civil society. This campaign will commence with a massive rally at Ramlila Ground, Delhi on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. The rally will be followed by a march to Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Swami Agnivesh, Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Archbishop Vincent Concessao, Prashant Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal and many other social activists will address the rally and lead the march.
[For further information on the event, please visit www.indiaagainstcorruption.org.]
Friends,
This is a critical moment in the history of independent India, and unless we apply unrelenting pressure on the political and bureaucratic system NOW, we will have missed a great opportunity to change the trajectory of our governance from a free fall to an upward climb. The mass rally and march being staged on the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi martyrdom will send a strong message to the powers that be that the people of India insist on enactment of a law to establish credible institutions to combat corruption and will not be satisfied with half measures.
Each of us needs to support this initiative by being there and bringing along as many friends as possible. Although everyone should join the march, it should be good for youth to be present in large numbers.
As this is a people’s movement, resources are in short supply. Please contribute generously to the cause. You may contact the organizers at indiaagainstcorruption.2010@gmail.com, info@indiaagainstcorruption.org and mobile number 09717460029 in this regard.
Kamal Kant Jaswal
Director, Common Cause
