The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : India could well have a Tahrir Square, says Lokayukta

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Sunday, Mar 27, 2011
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India could well have a Tahrir Square, says Lokayukta

Staff Reporter

Meet against corruption calls for protection to whistleblowers

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

STRONG MESSAGE:Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde and freedom fighter

BANGALORE: The country could head towards an Egypt- or Bahrain-type of upheaval if corruption was not stemmed, Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde said on Saturday, pointing out to public discontent over the functioning of the present administration.

But, at the same time, Mr. Hegde expressed concern over the protagonists of the upheavals also turning corrupt in due course.

“Instead of revolutions, we should launch mass social movements against corruption. I will join such movements after my retirement,” he said at the ‘Convention against Corruption' organised here by Karnataka Janajagruthi Abhiyana.

‘Boycott the corrupt'

Urging people to boycott the corrupt, he said: “Corruption has reached astronomical proportions. Democracy today has become by a few corrupt people, for a few corrupt people and of a few corrupt people.”

Appreciating the efforts of the Lokayukta for his crusade against corruption, senior advocate of the Karnataka High Court Ravivarma Kumar said it was unfortunate India was found to be the 16th most corrupt nation out of 100 surveyed.

“People should not become immune [and remain mute] to various dimensions of corruption. Unleash an active protest against the issue,” he said.

Freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy urged people to fight graft at all levels and severely punish the corrupt.

Among the seven resolutions adopted at the convention was strengthening of the Lokayukta and vesting of necessary powers to prosecute the corrupt.

Among others, the convention urged to bring all the elected representatives, including the Prime Minister, under the purview of the Lokpal Bill. Besides, the convention also demanded setting up of special courts to deal with corruption cases and protection to the whistleblowers.

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