By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Hundreds of people gathered at Khyndai Lad area of the city on Wednesday evening in support of Anna Hazare’s fight against corruption.
Youngsters and senior citizens alike were seen raising slogans and waving the Tricolour as they joined in the protest along with the rest of the country.
A young college student Edward Lyngdoh, who had joined in the gathering, said he was happy to be part of a fight that the whole country is involved in.
“I personally feel every youth in the country should be part of this noble campaign since nothing is spared from the evils of corruption,” Lyngdoh said. “We have to all raise our voice against the evils of corruption before it is too late,” he added.
The fact is that even educational institution is not spared from corruption, another college student said, adding, “Everyone is aware that one has to pay a huge amount of money to get admission in any educational institution. Not only this, one has to give bribe even to get a decent job.”
Tinku Hazarika, a motor mechanic by profession, said he had come to join the gathering to voice his opposition to the corrupt system prevalent in the country.
“We all need to stand united with Anna Hazare who is fighting for the cause of the common man,” Hazarika, who left his duties to attend the gathering, said.
Meanwhile, Mait Shaphrang Movement (MSM) chairman Michael Syiem said they would continue with this campaign till the demand for an effective and strong law to fight against corruption materialises.
“We strongly object to the opposition of the Union Government for inclusion of the Prime Minister, higher judiciary and the legislators under the purview of the Lokpal in the draft bill,” Syiem added.
Besides MSM, other NGOs who participated in the protest gathering included FKJGP, CSWO and Art of Living (Shillong Information Centre).
PM should not be under Lok Pal ambit: Purno
Even though social rights activist in Meghalaya have criticised the arrest of Gandhian Anna Hazare, former Speaker Purno A Sangma has vehemently opposed his demand to bring the Legislature, Judiciary and Prime Minister under the ambit of the proposed Lok Pal Bill, although he supported the former’s crusade against corruption, Our Special Correspondent from New Delhi adds.
In a letter to the veteran Gandhian, the NCP leader reminded Anna that bringing the Prime Minister and Judiciary under the Lok Pal Bill is fraught with disastrous consequences threatening parliamentary democracy and the sacrosanct judiciary.
Purno’s bold stand has earned appreciation from none other than Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. Addressing a press conference here after a Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting here, the Home Minister said views of senior leaders like Purno A Sangma, who had been a member of the Constitution amendment committee, should be taken seriously.
Meanwhile, social activists in Meghalaya have slammed the Centre for arresting Anna Hazare. The Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) has even lodged a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for arresting the Gandhian without any ‘provocation’. The Meghalaya People’s Human Rights Council (MPHRC) has also slammed the Centre for Hazare’s arrest.