Author: PTI
Publication: Daily News & Analysis
Date: February 27, 2011
URL: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_protests-against-corruption-memorandum-given-to-president_1513439-all
A group of social activists and religious
leaders submitted a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil today demanding
a strong anti-corruption law to deal with the menace.
The memorandum was submitted at the end of
a day-long protests against graft at Ramlila Maidan. The protesters also marched
in a procession to Jantar Mantar.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, Swami Agnivesh, Kiran
Bedi, eminent advocate Ram Jethmalani and RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal were
among others who participated in the protests. They demanded that government
take effective steps to bring back money stashed by Indian nationals in banks
abroad.
The memorandum, under the aegis of the Bharat
Swabhiman Trust, was signed among others by activist Anna Hazare, Jethmalani
and former BJP leader Govindacharya. It had 30 lakh signatories, a Trust representative
said.
Addressing the rally, Vishwa Bandhu Gupta,
a former IT Commissioner, alleged that two Congress leaders had links with
Hasan Ali Khan, the Pune-based stud farm owner, who allegedly stashed away
huge sums in foreign banks.
Baba Ramdev alleged that Indian nationals
had around Rs400 lakh crore in black money, out of which Rs300 lakh crore
is stashed in banks abroad.
Swami Agnivesh asked why the government was
allowing a particular international bank in which alleged black money has
been deposited to open its branches in the country.
Hazare said a strong Lokpal Act would act
as a deterrent to corruption.
Hazare yesterday had threatened to go on an
indefinite fast from April 5 if the prime minister does not initiate action
by March end for coming out with a bill to give Lokpal more teeth.
He demanded that the government immediately
set up a committee with at least half of its members being from the civil
society to formulate a plan to strengthen the institution of Lokpal.
