'Eradication of Corruption and Social Responsibilities: Opportunities and Challenges':-Former Army chief Gen VK Singh was Speaking

 
 

PATNA: Former Army chief Gen VK Singh  exhorted the people particularly youths to rise to the occasion as politicians of all parties are trying to ruin the future of the nation by devaluing democratic institutions and values.

He said all democratic institutions like CAG, judiciary and even Election Commission have become a subject of criticism by politicians. "Whenever these constitutional authorities start acting against corrupt politicians or political parties, they are criticized by these corrupt people. These politicians have not spared even the army who dedicate their life for the cause of the nation," he said, adding the country is passing through a difficult phase as corruption has taken a monstrous shape retarding the process of development.

Recalling Bihar's students' agitation led by JP in 1974, Gen Singh said the state has always fought for the cause of the nation and led the country from the front. "It had then changed the political profile of the country. Now time has once again come for the youth of the state to rise to the occasion to take the country out of present morass. I am ready to give them the leadership," Gen Singh said.

He advised youths to inculcate the same kind of unity among themselves that was prevalent during freedom struggle. "During freedom struggle, there was one goal that country attains Independence and everybody gets proper livelihood. It was because of this reason that people united against the Britishers. We need the same kind of unity now to throw out corrupt politicians who have ruined this country," Singh said.

"It seems, like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's slogan, 'tum hamein khun do hum azadai denge', our leaders have developed a new slogan - 'tum hamein paisa do, hum tumhen kaam denge'. Corruption has crept into their blood," he said.

He further said the government at the centre has failed on every front. "They talk about GDP growth rate but it doesn't fill one's belly. In India, democracy has been reduced to election politics which normally is guided by top business houses. In such a situation common people can't fight election. This trend has to be altered."

Former DG Manoje Nath said corruption can't be erased by law alone. "It is unfortunate that constitutional institutions are being attacked. It is a dangerous trend and has to be changed. Laws are adequate but whether these are being enforced effectively or not is to be seen.

Retired bureaucrat I C Kumar, U K Singh, Chairman of Bihar legislative council Awdhesh Narain Singh, Gandhian Nirmal Bhai and A K Nayak also spoke on the occasion.