Thaindian News

Ralegan-Siddhi (Maharashtra), Sep 2 (IANS) Social activist Anna Hazare said here Friday that the Indian officialdom consisted of “liars” and expressed apprehensions over the country?s future.

Addressing his first major rally since his 12-day fast ended in New Delhi last week, Hazare said that during his interactions with the government officials in the past five-six months, he found that they indulged in blatant lies and misleading statements.

?With this state of affairs, I have serious apprehensions over the future of our country,? Hazare said.

The 74-year-old anti-corruption activist warned that the way to end corruption was long and much ground remained to be covered.

Hazare said the achievement in the capital last week, when the government agreed in principle to his three key demands for a more inclusive Lokpal bill, was merely the beginning.

The torch has been lit and held by people in the remotest corners of India,” Hazare told a gathering of around 10,000. “Now this struggle for `independence from corruption? must be taken forward by the youths.?

He expressed satisfaction over the anti-corruption movement securing the support of all castes and communities, united on the issue.

Hazare said the government had been ?jolted? by the agitation, but it would require similar “jolts” at regular intervals even in future.

He added that the agitation proved that the peoples? parliament was `supreme? and even Parliament could not overrule popular aspirations.

Hazare said the ‘Quit India’ call went out from Mumbai?s August Kranti Maidan to the British in 1942. They left in 1947.

They (the British) have gone, but corruption has not gone; social injustice has not gone; terrorism has not come down,? he said.

He demanded to know what the country had gained from Independence. ?The same loot and exploitation of the common masses continues,? he said.

He urged the youths to keep their thoughts, actions and character “clean and spotless” and believe in sacrifices to achieve objectives.

?When social injustice is being done in front of you and you choose to keep quiet, it is the biggest crime,? Hazare said. He asked the people to fight social, economic and political justice and, if needed, be prepared to go to jail.

He recalled the statements of the champion of the downtrodden, Babasaheb Ambedkar, who called for reducing the gap between the rich and poor.

“What has happened to it after 64 years of Independence?” he asked. “The rich are getting richer, the poor are becoming poorer. The rich wonder `what all? to eat while the poor worries `what? to eat.?

Hazare also touched upon issues like right to livelihood and jobs, conservation of nature and environment, and decentralisation of power up to the village level.

Though appearing a bit frail and weary, Hazare displayed his usual fighting spirit and lashed out at the central government, specifically charging Home Minister P. Chidambaram with putting hurdles in the way of his agitation.

He remained seated throughout his 25-minute speech, largely in Marathi, and at the insistence of sections of the audience, spoke a few concluding sentences in Hindi.