'Corrupt forces trying to derail our campaign'

The Times of India; Varanasi; Sunday, May 01, 2011,

VARANASI: With Anna Hazare laid in hospital, it was left upon Arvind Kejriwal, the IRS officer-turned-anti-corruption crusader, to blow the formal bugle against corruption and launch the anti-graft campaign from Varanasi on Friday on Anna'a behalf.

"All corrupt forces in the country have come together to derail the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare," claimed Kejriwal, the man who had won the Roman Magsaysay Award in 2006 for his contribution to the enactment of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

In a brief chat with media persons at Sarva Seva Sangh, Rajghat on Friday, Kejriwal said those same corrupt forces were afraid of the stringent provisions of the proposed Jan Lokpal Bill and wanted to derail the whole process through a well-planned conspiracy. "These forces have levelled baseless allegations against most of the civil society members of the joint committee constituted after the fast by veteran social activist Anna Hazare and widespread protests by citizens across India to draft an effective Jan Lokpal Bill," he said and pointed out even Anna was not spared by them.

"The main motive of such mud slinging is to build pressure on civil society members just to quit the committee. But, we are firm on our stand and have set our eyes on the goal like Arjuna," said Kejriwal, overruling the possibility of any breakup in the committee. "The entire country is standing by Anna Hazare for his tirade against corruption. It is not just an individual battle but a collective movement for a larger goal. Good and positive thinking people will have to come together to defeat the evil forces and change the corrupt system," he said and added there was no question of stopping the Lokpal Bill from coming into existence if all citizens came together. The fast of Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar was just a beginning, he said and added there was a long way to go with a strong commitment to bring reforms and changes in the system.

Kejriwal admitted that the absence of Anna Hazare in Varanasi to begin the anti-graft campaign had disappointed many, but added he (Hazare) would make a visit to the city sometime soon. He also attended a meeting of social activists associated with various social organisations at Sarva Seva Sangh before moving to the rally. Social workers from various places including Ballia, Ghazipur, Mau, Allahabad and other places raised public problems at the meeting. After hearing their problems, he said all problems could be solved if the Lokpal Bill was enacted. He asked them to move to the rally place where he would explain the Jan Lokpal Bill in detail. He also made an appeal to them to publicise the features of Lokpal in their respective areas. Manish Sisodia, one of the members of India Against Corruption (IAC) who had been camping for several days in the city, said the IAC aimed at educating people about the need of an effective Lokpal to resolve problems. Lokpal Bill has been introduced eight times in Parliament since 1968. All the eight versions have been very weak. Even these weak versions have not been passed so far because Lokpal Bill seeks to investigate politicians. The AIC claimed that the latest draft of Lokpal Bill prepared by the present UPA government was a complete eyewash. Rather than strengthen anti-corruption systems, it demolishes whatever exists in the name of anti-corruption systems today. It seeks to completely insulate politicians from any kind of action against them.

Earlier, he along with others including Swami Agnivesh, former DGP Prakash Singh and satirist and actor Jaspal Bhatti arrived at Mughalsarai station by Purushottam Express. After refreshment and holding meetings with social workers at Sarva Seva Sangh, he moved to Asi Ghat by a boat.
Later, they went to the main gate of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Lanka area, where they offered floral garland to the statue of Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya before moving to Cutting Memorial Inter College to address a public rally. It might be mentioned that Anna Hazare could not address the rally due to health reasons.