On 3 September 2011 05:55, cormolcar <[email protected]> wrote: > > I am happy that children are being encouraged to do the above. Writing, > Painting and Speaking are all beneficial activites. > > I am concerned, however, about two elements: One present, the Other missing. > > PRESENT: Participation in rallies. Is this a platform for partisan political > persuasion?
No. This is a platform for a strong Lokpal Law against corruption. Not for or against any Political party. >Who will choose the speakers at these rallies? Who will be funding these >rallies? Will the >organisers declare their 'non-corruption' status under oath >- before they are allowed to >speak or otherwise participate in these rallies? >Will these children be BUSED in and >otherwise ENCOURAGED (refreshments etc >will be provided) to attend the rallies? All the rallies have been non-partisan. Most of the speakers who spoke at these rallies were the same ones who had spoken at the 'GBA' or the 'GRA' Rallies, which too were on specific issues like the Regional Plan or the SEZs and not for or against any particular party in particular. This Rally too was against the issue of corruption, not a Political Party propaganda. In this particular Rally, majority of the speakers who spoke were students themselves. Teachers and principals also spoke. Nobody was forced. Consent was obtained from all concerned including their parents. Organizers spent their own money. An anti-corruption oath was taken at the Martyrs memorial. > I am assuming that as these are children, non-coerced CONSENT has been > obtained >from their parents wrt their participation at non-school events. > Or, is it likely that >participation has been/ is/ will be as voluntary as > the 'enforced Goa bandh'? Consent was obtained. Nobody was forced. There were no political slogans for or against any political outfit. Only slogans like Anna Hazare Zindabad, Bharat Mata ki Jai, Vande Mataram and Jai Hind filled the air. There was a sense of jubilation and a festive atmosphere all round. The students were extremely happy that they had contributed in some way or the other in this crusade against corruption. They were accorded a royal welcome when they arrived. > > MISSING: Probably the most crucial element in the drive against corruption. > i.e. A >declaration (by their parents ....who are providing the consent) that > they themselves have >not been corrupt, are not corrupt and (by the children) > that they will not seek personal >advancement via corrupt means. An oath was taken at the martyr's memorial but in any case, ours is a fight against the system rather than against any particular individual actually. > For, it is one thing to call out the name of Mahatma Gandhi and Anna Hazare > (and Jesus >Christ for that matter), it is another to practice the sacrifice > and simplicity of their >lifestyles. This Rally was not about moral preaching. Ours was a rally called out to demand a strong Lokpal. Even Gandhi fought for strong laws to combat untouchability. > > If Not: It will be like going to church/satsanghs etc every-whenever and > listening to boring >(or fiery) platitude-filled sermaos/bhashans from > corrupt priests and other alleged GodMen >(and we all know that there are > corrupt folks among this lot) .... or listening to Politicians >who will > point 1 finger at another politician even though 4 fingers could well be > pointing >towards the SadhuSant/Saint himself. Exactly our point. Ours is therefore a fight against the system rather than being for or against any political party. We want a strong system to be put in place. We are fighting for a strong citizens charter with strong penalties imposed on those officials who do not deliver services to the public within the stipulated time prescribed in the charters. > There are absolutely NO lead individuals in their group who are tainted with > > coruption......and that ALL funding is non-Kala Pani. To the best of my knowledge, nobody is tainted with corruption. The IAC has declared the source of their funding on their website. More details will be uploaded shortly. In our rallies, each of us contributed. regards, Sandeep
