Mani on Lalu's conviction on corruption charge
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, October 04 2013 :
Senior advocate Khaidem Mani today tipped off all the individuals who are indulging in corruption in Manipur, saying such people cannot enjoy immunity in the long run.
Corruption sometimes turns out as a 'big festival' in Manipur, especially during the time of elections, Mani, who is also the president of All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA), told NNN on Friday.
He was sharing his legal point of view on corruption after former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was sentenced to five years imprisonment in a 17-year-old fodder scam case by a special CBI court yesterday after he was convicted on corruption and other charges.
Mani commented that now the practice of corruption has become the means and ways of our day-today life and that without it no one is going to lead a normal life in the society that has been plagued by it.
"It appears that rampant corruption has overwhelmed both our body and mind and has penetrated into our veins too," he remarked.
The people are buzzing around that all the ministers, MLAs, including bureaucrats and other officers of the Government Departments ranging from top to bottom in the state are corrupt, he said.
However, in the long run no one can enjoy immunity and this has been witnessed in the fodder scam case in which six politicians including Lalu, his five associates and four IAS officers have been imprisoned, Mani said.
"This sentence given by the CBI special court is an eye opener to the politicians of Manipur.
It's the right moment that these politicians too abstain from the practice of corruption if they want to escape themselves from such punishments," he suggested.
"We can't completely root out corruption in a capitalist society such as ours and if want it we need to change it into a socialist society," he said.
He added that his plain suggestion is that mass awareness through public discussions on corruption should be encouraged for prevention and reduction of this practice.
To fight against it, the help of RTI and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and other relevant laws are also needed, he added.
The first and foremost task of the state Government towards preventing corruption should start by refusing bribe in recruitment of Government employees and maintaining transparency through taking video of the process will be practical, he further suggested.
He also suggested that taking into account of the present state of affairs in the state, establishing bodies like anti-corruption struggle committee and anti-corruption movement committee after seeking help of the law and the public can also help in preventing corruption in a big way.