Join

Peoples’ March Against Corruption

In Silchar, Assam
At 4pm , on 1 May 2011

Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) and other 20 odd grassroots
organizations working in Barak valley in Assam invite the citizens of India residing
in Barak valley to join a Peoples’ March Against Corruption to be started
approximately at 4 pm on 1 May 2011 from below the statue of Shaheed Khudiram
at Dakbangla, Silchar, Assam. The march will end at below the statue of Netaji
Subhas Chandra Bose at Rangirkhari, Silchar covering about 4 km.

The march is organized to show support and solidarity with the movement launched
and led by India Against Corruption for an effective legislation to constitute a Lokpal
(Ombudsman) at the centre to fight against corruption. It is also to express peoples’
denunciation to the smear campaign launched by corrupt forces against the senior
advocate Mr. Prashant Bhushan and his father former law minister Mr. Shanti
Bhushan, who are the members of the joint committee to draft a Lokpal Bill
constituted by the government, and other members of the committee.

The recent outpouring of public outrage at corruption and support to the campaign
for a strong Lokpal Bill appears to have made some sections of politicians, the media
and the business interests that control both, afraid and desperate. They are trying to
weaken the movement, and particularly, to discredit the joint committee by indulging
in personal attacks on the civil society members. Instead of debating the details of the
proposed Lokpal Bill, and deliberating ways of making it more effective and people
friendly and invention of other measures of curbing corruption, they are focused on
character assassination of members of the Committee.

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In Assam there is already a Lukayukta (State Ombudsman) in existence since 1989
constituted under the Assam Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1985. However, its
existence is only in papers. Legally it is ineffective and practically dysfunctional.
Corruption in Assam is, by no means, lesser in amount of money involved or its effect in
defeating the rule of law and justice than what is happening in the rest of the country.
Assam needs to amend its Lokayukta Act in line with the Jan Lokpal Bill, as it will be
shaped in its final version, to make it effective.

Moreover, corruption needs to be fought in other fronts also. A strong and effective
Lokpal can only provide deterrence and disincentives for corruption by investigating
and prosecuting the corrupt officials and politicians. Thus, it can only check the supply
side of corruption. There is a huge demand of corruption from giant corporations that
came into existence due to the privatization of essential services and natural resources
under the name of liberalization. It is not possible to curb corruption without changing
the government policies.

Mass organizations and masses of Barak valley will march to draw the attention of
leadership of the movement to these issues and to the fact that they don’t need to be
distracted by the diversionary tactics as people from the remotest of the corners of the
country are with them.

Convener Organisations:

1. Asom Majuri Shramik Union

Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

2. Barak Human Rights Protection Committee

Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

3. Krishan Bikash Samiti

Banskandi, Cachar, Assam.

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4. Centre for Integrated Rural Development (CIRD)

Srikona, Cachar, Assam.

5. Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti

Silchar, Cacahr, Assam.

6. Cachar Jamiot Ulema Hind

Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

7. Ever green Society

Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

8. Nari Mukti Sangta

Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

9. Srikona Club

Srikona Club, Cachar, Assam

10. Chours, Drama Organisations

Silchar, Cachar, Assam

11. SC, ST Student Development Forum

Assam University, Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

12. Tarapur G.P. Bachao Committee

Tarapur, Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

13. Student Democratic Forum

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 Assam University, Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

14. Manipuri Diaspora

Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

15. Mukta Sena (Club)

Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

16. Swabhiman

Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

17. Minority Student Forum

Assam University, Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

18. COPE (NGO)

Silchar, Cachar, Assam.

19. Gono Bikash Sangtha, Assam

Silchar, Cachar.

Link at the BHRPC website: http://bhrpc.wordpress.com/2011/04/30/peoples%e2%80%99-march-against-corruption/