New Delhi: "Dynastic rule in a party is curse for our political system" and has to be rooted out, activist Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday, urging the youths to grab this "last chance" to bring a change.
The activist said the youths should take the fight against corruption to Parliament in the coming elections. "During our indefinite fast this time, it became clear that no party wants the Janlokpal bill, be it Congress or BJP, SP or BSP.
"We have been fighting for it for last one and a half years on the streets but now the fight is going into Parliament. For this, youth should participate in large number to take this movement to Parliament," he said while addressing the "Mind Rocks" Youth Conclave here.
Kejriwal attacked the parties for giving tickets to the relatives of their leaders and said "dynastic rule in a party is curse for our political system and it has to be rooted out."
Asking the youth to participate in the political process and join the movement against corruption, he said "it was people`s movement and now they will take it to Parliament by electing the right candidate, rising above politics."
Kejriwal refuted allegations that he was contesting the elections due to his "hunger for power".
"Soon after our freedom, when people contest elections they were termed as a `true patriot`, but now if you want to fight election then people will say you have a hunger for power. Such an environment has been created by these politicians," the former Team Anna member said.
Justifying the decision to form political party and contest elections, Kejriwal said said "we had tried all possible ways to deal with the government on the Janlokpal issue. We discussed with them, we wrote letters to them, we went on hunger strike thrice, but they didn`t hear our voice.
"So, there is only one way left, is to join politics and root this corrupt system out."
Kejriwal said candidates have to pay crores of rupees to
get a ticket and it also prevents good people from joining politics.
Holding the politicians responsible for creating an environment that politics was for "goondas" and not for "good people", he said "in the days of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Sardar Patel and Baba Saheb Ambedkar, if anyone got into politics, then people used to say that you are patriot".
When asked how he would find 542 "good and honest" candidates for his party, Kejriwal said "we will not but the people themselves will chose their candidates."
"We have devised a system in which we will ask the people to suggest a name and then his name would be put up on website asking people to provide evidence of corruption against him for three months and if he comes clean then he would be our candidate," Kejriwal said.
After this, the winning candidate will not have any perks, or becon light fitted car or any funds of an MP at his disposal, he would be living as a common man, he said, adding if anyone faces allegation of corruption then the probe against him should be finished in three months and also trial in next three months.
The activist said "people should take it as a last chance or else we don`t know how long we would have to wait".
Congress MP and spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit while addressing the conclave said "Arvind`s statement or movement which he led, itself says that there are faults in our system. The parties have probably become mirror image of each other, that is why such a thing has happened."
Dikshit said he was satisfied that the steps taken by Kejriwal and his friends would strengthen the society and the political structure.
"There is need to strengthen the institutions which can raise voices. When the people like you get into politics, then you bring ideological change, and we hope that. If there is need for institutions which collect vote, then there is also a need for institutions which can raise voices against the wrong. There is need to maintain a balance," Dikshit said.
"If you have hope for change then I also have. If we have power to fight the odds then we will survive or else we will be lost in the wind of change. If we are able to reform and change ourselves then only a political system will be established which can prove itself on the aspirations of the people," he said.
PTI
