like cancer, corruption is spreading in the country engulfing political, economic, administrative and social spheres. While huge amount of black money from the country is stashed in foreign banks, it also seems to be dominating all sectors in the country,” said Rajya Sabha member Baisnab Charan Parida here on Monday.
Speaking at a Press conference organised by the Akhil Bhatiya Bhrastachar Nirmulan Sangharsh Samiti (ABBNSS), the MP said the base of corruption at the political level lies in the electoral system. Nowadays, leaders come to power by luring voters with money and other means. Though certain rules stipulated by the Election Commission have reduced such irregularities at a minimal rate in recent times, it still existing, he added.
“While the election candidates are allowed to spend Rs 27 lakh and Rs 70 lakh for Assembly and Parliament seats, respectively, during campaigning, almost all of them have violated the norms and gained votes by spending more,” he said. He underscored the need for people’s awareness and people’s power to root out corruption.
Samiti State president Yogacharya Haribhai Arya said that to remove corruption from all spheres of life, first we need to remove it from one’s intellectual state of mind. He also called upon people to pay respect and remember the martyrs and freedom fighters who have sacrificed their lives for the country. Among others, ABBNSS national president Pradip Patil, vice-president Manoj Pathak, former State Finance Minister Panchanan Kanungo and OUAT Director Prof Bikash Panda spoke.