Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Extending her support to Anna Hazare, former IPS officer and activist Kiran Bedi on Tuesday urged people to pray for the success of the cause undertaken by the 72-year-old veteran social activist.
Anna Hazare began his fast unto death at Jantar Mantar calling for greater public participation in the formulation of the anti-corruption bill.
The former top cop further lashed out at the government for looting the wealth of the common man. She further expressed concern over the absence of a stringent anti-corruption law in the country. “There is a law in this country for pickpockets, but not for those who fill their own pockets from the wealth of others”, she said.
Ms Bedi further underlined the interference by political parties in the work of CBI, which has hampered the credibility of the investigative agency. The fearless lady insisted for a change in the system, so that the nation can win another world cup in the form of Jan Lokpal bill. The bill calls for wider powers to the Ombudsman to check corruption.
“If this country was honest, it would have become the 2nd biggest economy of the world. The salaries of teachers and security officials would have been four times more. The tax limit would have been minimal.”
Criticising the Bill drafted by the government, she said that it is intended at protecting the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats than prosecuting them.
She also urged the government to pass an ordinance to declare the black money stashed abroad as national wealth.
`Jantar Mantar India’s Tahrir Square`
Addressing the supporters, Right to Information Activist Arvind Kejriwal said that Sharad Pawar, who himself is involved in many corruption cases, is leading the Group of Ministers formed to scrutinise the changes in the Lokpal Bill. Taking a dig at Kapil Sibal, the Magsaysay Awardee stated that Sibal, who was unable to see any scam in the 2G spectrum allocation, is also a part of the group.
“We want a joint committee to be formed to draft the new bill were at least half of the members are public leaders," said Kejriwal, vowing to make New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar India’s Tahrir Square.
Cairo`s Tahrir Square had become the centre of protests that led to the ouster of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak.
