'Politicians, bureaucrats root cause of corruption'
No room for honest people in our democracy, says KPRS leader
The unholy nexus of bureaucrats and politicians is responsible for corruption to the tune of Rs 20 lakh crore in the past seven years in the nation, said Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha State General Secretary B C Bayya Reddy.
He was speaking at a discussion on ‘Whether Lokpal, Jan Lokpal Bill could prevent corruption in the country,’ organised by Holur Shankar Memorial Committee, to mark the second death anniversary of the veteran farmers’ leader, in the City on Sunday.
Honest people are unable to contest in the elections. Similarly, securing a place in the parliamentary democracy set up seems almost near to impossible owing to rampant corruption that has penetrated all walks of our life, he said.
The Prime Minister should be included in the Lokpal Bill. However, inclusion of the judiciary in the Bill shall only tantamount to toppling the Constitution.Thus, a separate National Judicial Commission should be created. Moreover, Article 105 of the Constitution, which deals with conduct of MPs in the Parliament should be strengthened, urged Bayya Reddy.
Tax evasion
“One of the biggest forms of corruption is evasion of taxes by businessmen and corporate houses. It is strange that no voice is being raised against the same,” said MLC V R Sudarshan.
Only corruption among politicians and bureaucrats is projected often in the media. However, today the judiciary and other departments too are no exception to corruption. Only people’s strongwill can cleanse corruption that has ensnared all walks of our life.
However, corruption which is the bane of our society cannot be wiped out with a magic wand, added Sudarshan.
BJP’s inaction
The BJP which is seeking the implementation of the Lokpal Bill should bear in mind that Lokayukta was appointed only recently in Gujarat. Moreover, the inaction of the BJP government in Karnataka over the report on illegal mining in the State submitted by the Lokayukta speaks volumes about the BJP government’s intentions, he said.
Also speaking on the occasion former minister K Srinivas Gowda said corruption can be rooted out only when people putforth an united fight.
Money-driven polls
Today’s politicians splurge money during elections and once they are chosen to power, all they think about is ways and means of securing the amount back. During the tenure they hardly channelise their energies and resources towards the region’s development. In such a vicious scenario, the people should evince great care while exercising their franchise, he added.
A veteran farmers’ leader
Holur Shankar, popularly known as ‘Shankaranna’ among farmers, farm workers, was a veteran farmers’ leader. He died of bone marrow cancer in 2009.
Holur Shankar led many agitations of tomato, mango growers and dairy farmers. He was in the forefront of the struggle demanding implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA).
He was active in the peasant and Left movement in the undivided Kolar district. A State Committee member of Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha, an affiliate of All India Kisan Sabha, and Kolar Taluk Committee Secretary of CPI(M) he led and won several struggles against injustices.
Comrade Holur Shankar, who joined the movement in his college days, worked as district president of the Students’ Federation of India and built a strong movement among students. Moreover, he strove indefatigably for communal harmony in the region.
