The fight against the scourge and cancer of corruption has rocked the very foundations of Indian politics, the Indian government and the parliament. The fast by the 74-year-old social activist and Gandhian Anna Hazare has galvanised the people to stand up and be counted in the fight to eradicate the blight of corruption at all levels of government and the bureaucracy.
The 12-day fast ended on Sunday morning at 10.00 a.m. with Mr. Hazare accepting a drink of coconut water and honey. He said the government agreeing to accept a strong Lokpal Bill that would create the post of a national ombudsman to monitor senior politicians and bureaucrats, was a victory for all Indians and that non-violent people power was as effective if not more effective than parliamentary laws. Meanwhile Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who was applauded for his courageous and conciliatory speech on the floor of the Lok Sabha said the Indian people had spoken through parliament. The fast was the focal point for the protest by tens of thousands of disillusioned Indians from all walks of life and all parts of the vast country and the world’s biggest democracy.
The groundswell of support came from the urban and rural middle class including students, professionals, unemployed youths and farmers who gathered at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan where Anna Hazare was fasting and boxed the Indian government into a political corner compelling members on both sides of the House to accept the three important demands put forward by him.
Against this backdrop of the high wire drama in neighbouring India, it is high time for Sri Lanka to take notice of the rampant, blatant and unprecedented corruption which has spread from high places to virtually all places in this country.
Was anybody held responsible or accountable for the Trade Ministry importing 75,000 coconuts to Sri Lanka despite such imports being banned and having to be destroyed? Who paid for the coconuts, was it not the taxpayer who had to foot the bill for someone’s nutty folly. We also have the case of at least 20,000 tonnes of low quality petrol being imported to the country and distributed to filling stations. It not only damaged the pumps at filling stations but also thousands of vehicles that used this contaminated petrol.
The anti-corruption protests in India filled the vacuum left by the Indian government which failed or delayed to take action against corruption in high places.
In Sri Lanka we too need Anna Hazares who are ready to risk their lives in leading a public campaign against corruption because the fear and worry is that an unconcerned people looking the other way or who prefer to remain silent in the face of corruption may find it being gradually woven into our social fabric and taken for granted. We have a crisis of absolute power in our country. We can only hope and pray that it will not corrupt the country absolutely.
DailyMirror.lk: