Anna's anti-graft fight in Delhi resonates in Manipur
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, August 19 2011:
Manipur unit of BJP today staged a sit-in protest against the "botched" version of Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) Lokpal Bill and in support of Anna Hazare's ongoing nationwide fight for a strong and effective ombudsman.
The one-day sit-in, which was held at the BJP state office at Nityaipat Chuthek in Imphal, was participated by about 40 office bearers and mahila morcha members.
BJP state unit president Shanti Kumar Sharma charged the Central government with encouraging corruption by continuing to scuttle the civil society's version of the Lokpal.
He said that the version of the civil society must also be introduced in the Parliament as is required by Anna and his team.
While saying that the Central government has failed on all counts as far as addressing the issue of corruption is concerned, he asked why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has not resigned on moral ground despite some of his cabinet colleagues (Members of Parliament) being implicated on charges of corruption and sent to jail.
"His image of Mr.clean does not absolve him of holding the high office of prime minister of the government which is ridden in scam and corrupt practices", he said and sought immediate resignation of the prime minister on moral ground.
Significantly, telecoms minster A Raja and Common Wealth Games organizing committee president Suresh Kalmadi have been arrested and incarcerated on charges of multi-crores kickbacks.
Some corporate honchos are also implicated of receiving pecuniary benefits in the 2G scam involving A Raja.
Even as the country was gripped by frustration against rampant corruption in high public places few months ago, a frail Anna Hazare fired the imagination of the people to come out on the street against corruption and to "be the change" .
The fight led by Team Anna has increasingly become a fight against the government with politician from the ruling party vilifying him as not representing the majority of the people of India.
He has also been charged with trying to botched parliamentary democracy by invading into the jurisdiction of elected representatives who are mandated by the constitution to make law for the country.
Mr.Anna was preemptively arrested on charges of attempting to disrupt the peace of the area by Delhi police three days ago as he prepared to begin his fast-till-death protest seeking inclusion of the civil society's version of Lokpal bill called Jan Lokpal.
As the groundswell in support of Anna rose to an epic proportion outside Tihar jail in Delhi, the government ordered his release under the condition that he will have to cut short his fast.
As Anna stuck to his guns, and the chant outside the jail grew shrill, the government had no choice but to conced to his demand on the venue and limitation on the fast.
He is currently at Ramlila ground fasting with thousands of his supporters and taking the fight against corruption to a fever pitch level.
People from different walks of life also joined him in the fight at different places across the country.
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