BeyondHeadlines Staff Reporter
Pune (Maharashtra): Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare yesterday emphasised the need for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill as an effective tool to tackle the corruption in the country.
“The use of Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, is not sufficient to tackle the serious problem. The RTI Act does not have the teeth to bite the corruption and hence we need a weapon like the Jan Lokpal Bill,” he said while addressing a group of almost 500 people at Ralegan Siddhi Village in Pune, Maharashtra.
The people organised a motor cycle rally on Sunday in Pune and travelled to Hazare’s village to express solidarity with the anti-corruption crusader for his forthcoming hunger strike at Delhi from August 16 to press for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill. The rally was organised by India Against Corruption (IAC).
According to the Pune chapter convenor of IAC, BB Somani Hazare reiterated that the Jan Lokpal Bill placed in the parliament is a weak one.
“Anna is determined to stage the hunger strike at Delhi and he is not bothered about the consequences,” Somani stated quoting Anna.
Hazare, according to Somani, also advocated for strong Lokayukta at the state level to combat corruption. The rallyists were welcomed by the residents of Hazare’s village by bursting crackers and offered them flowers.
“The response was truly encouraging for us. We have pledged to Anna that IAC would whole heartedly back him in his crusade against corruption,” Somani said.
Various groups and organisations in the city came together under the banner of IAC campaign to extend their support to the rally.
Sandeep Khardekar of Creative Foundations said, “People from different parts of the city participated in the rally which was carried out in peaceful manner.”
