Political leaders involved in corruption should be tried in fast track courts for speedy trial,” said noted social activist Anna Hazare who was in the State capital on Thursday as part of the Jantantrik Yatra.
Alleging that the Union government had cheated him by backtracking on the promise of formulating a comprehensive law on Jan-lokpal that compelled him to launch the nationwide movement, he said, “The Government not only deceived me but has deceived 120 crore common people of the country.”
Anna announced that he will awaken the common people through the Yatra and again sit on a fast unto death at Ramlila Ground in Delhi later in the year in October or November. “People will again come in support of the movement in large numbers,” he quipped.
“There is an urgent need to awaken the people on this issue. Corruption is eating the roots of our country. It is responsible for the sky-rocketing prices. It is due to corruption that the development schemes do not reach to the poor. Out of Rs 1 meant for development on 10 paisa reaches below. Jan-lokpal is required to check this plunder,” Anna said.
Anna also targeted the dominance of political party in the democratic system of the country. “Even though the country got independence in 1947, it was not real freedom because the political system was hijacked by political parties. The constitution does not have any provision for participation of political parties in elections. It envisages that elections will be fought by common people.
However, we find that political parties have come to dominate the elections which are against constitution as well as against democracy,” he said. “Political parties should have been abolished at the time when country got independence. It was in this spirit that Mahatma Gandhi had suggested for dissolving the Congress after independence,” Anna remarked.
When asked by the media persons if he was suggesting for boycott of elections, he said, “I am not suggesting that elections should be boycotted. Instead people should elect candidates who they select and not those who are selected by political parties.” Although he welcomed participation of independent candidates, he evaded the question if he would give support to such independent candidates in next elections.
“Political parties make money by power and gain power by money,” he said adding that the party system is responsible for the deteriorating condition of the country. later, he addressed a public meeting at Gandhi Bhawan here. Anna Hazare reached the city earlier from Hoshangabad and was felicitated by the local business community at New Market. He will leave for Raisen on Friday morning. The Jantantra Yatra will conclude in Indore on July 17.