Press Releases Archive

Lok Satta demands speedy trial in corruption cases

Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today demanded that various wings of the Union Government initiate action against the guilty if there is any truth in the allegations made by India against Corruption (IAC) against Mr. Robert Vadra.

Dr. JP said that action is warranted irrespective of evidence of quid pro quo and added that the issue need not be politicized.

Addressing a media conference, Dr. JP said that the IAC accused Mr. Robert Vadra of receiving an unsecured interest-free loan of Rs.65 crore from real estate firm DLF and that he acquired real estate from DLF at less than the market value. If the charges are true, they must be dealt with beyond politics.

Dr. JP asked what the independent directors in the public listed company were doing when the company advanced an interest-free loan to the detriment of its shareholders. The Registrar of Companies is duty bound to inquire into the irregularity. If the allegation is correct, the Income Tax Department should treat the receipt of money by Mr. Robert Vadra as unassessed income and impose tax and penalty. The IT Department is entitled to acquire the property for the Government if it is registered for less than the market value.

Dr. JP said that people were losing faith in the Government and the judiciary because the wheels of justice grind very slowly in India. He said that the trial in Satyam Ramalinga Raju's case is yet to begin and the investigation into cases against YSR Congress President Jaganmohan Reddy seems to last for years going by CBI's submissions in the Supreme Court.

In contrast, justice is rendered swiftly in countries like China and the U. S. He cited the instance of Bo, a rising star and Politburo member of the Chinese Communist Party and his wife being punished in a case of corruption and murder of a British businessman, Rod Blagojevich, the Illinois Governor, being jailed for seeking donation to fund his election in return for nomination to a Senate seat vacated by President Barrack Obama and an NRI couple being jailed and deprived of all their property for indulging in medical fraud. In India, it took more than ten years to bring the guilty in Rajiv Gandhi assassination to book whereas it took only one year in the Mahatma Gandhi assassination.

Dr. JP said people would regain faith in justice only if the guilty are meted out deterrent punishment swiftly. He demanded that special courts be constituted on a permanent basis to try corruption cases. Investigative agencies like the CBI and the ACB should be freed from seeking prior Government clearances for taking up investigation into cases against public servants. A law should be passed to facilitate attachment of properties in corruption cases. Prosecutors should be independent and immunized from political interference.

Dr. JP welcomed TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu's letter to the Prime Minister seeking autonomy for the CBI. In this connection, Dr. JP recalled that he had submitted a private Bill for amending the Prevention of Corruption Act but it is yet to see the light of the day because neither the ruling Congress nor the Opposition TDP is interested in it.

In reply to a question on the Government of India permitting FDI in retail, Dr. JP said that while he welcomed it as a means to reduce the country's current account deficit, he did not subscribe to the Government flaunting it as a piece of radical reform and the Opposition rubbishing it as a catastrophe. The country is crying for reforms in fields like education, healthcare, agriculture, police, judiciary, elections and corruption. But the Governments would not undertake them.

In reply to a question, he said that the Lok Satta would welcome formation of Telangana as part of a comprehensive and amicable solution. He appealed to all parties and organizations not to fan hatred among brethren since they cannot change geography even after the State is carved out into two or three pieces.

He reiterated the Lok Satta Party is prepared to work together with the party proposed to be grounded by Mr. Avind Kerjiwal since they shared common goals. Informal consultations are going on right now, Dr. JP added.

Lok Satta leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao and E. Chennayya took part in the conference.

Saturday, October 6, 2012 - 18:54

We are on the right side of history, Dr. JP asserts on Lok Satta's sixth anniversary

"We are on the right side of history," asserted Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan on the sixth anniversary of the founding of the party here today.

Addressing a media conference, Dr. JP said that the "journey since the formation of the party six years ago on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary has been difficult and uneven but rewarding."

Dr. JP said that "we have many miles to go but we move forward with clear knowledge and firm determination that there is no alternative to the Gandhian path for a better India."

Dr. JP pointed out that Mahatma Gandhi essentially stood for four values or principles.

First, he stood for ethical politics and maintained that public life is an extension of personal life and practiced what he preached. Secondly, he mastered the art of confronting challenges through creative tension, and not allowing them to degenerate into violence and hatred. With this technique, he built a great nation of disparate people with a variety of backgrounds. Thirdly, he maintained that opportunities should be available to all and that there should be no disparity irrespective of the circumstances of one's birth. Fourthly, he always fought for local government by underlining that the locus of power should be the citizen and his family. Power should be exercised as close to the citizen as possible at the village or the ward level.

Dr. JP said that Gandhi's values are eternal and universal and are relevant to a vast, complex, diverse and ancient society like ours. "Our failure to translate those principles into action in free India has landed us in crisis."

The Lok Satta Party has adopted the four Gandhian principles of ethical politics, harmony in society, opportunities to all without discrimination and power to people as its sheet anchor.

The Lok Satta can look back upon the past year with great satisfaction. It was instrumental in getting the scam-tainted 2-G licenses cancelled and fresh auctions initiated. Through its dramatic farmer satyagraha, the Lok Satta exposed the grave injustice being done to the farmer. Politics are slowly but steadily changing in favor of the farmer. The people's movement against corruption has created conditions conducive to creation of strong institutions like Lok Pal and citizen's charter. The focus on education and healthcare is deepening, paving the way for a better political discourse.

Dr. JP said that the Lok Satta Party will continue to remain a beacon of hope, raising right issues at the right time and mobilizing public opinion. The Surajya movement launched by the party during the year will pave the way for a better India. The Lok Satta Party is getting ready to organize internal elections and build a party completely owned, funded, controlled and led by ordinary people.

He called upon all thinking people not be on the sidelines but come forward and take ownership of the party to transform politics and society.

Dr. JP underlined the importance of youth, middle classes, women and farmers joining politics by saying that politics is too important a business to be left merely to politicians.

In reply to a question, Dr. JP said that the Lok Satta Party whole-heartedly welcomes the formation of Telangana as part of a comprehensive and amicable solution. The Telangana people have repeatedly expressed their aspiration for a separate State and it cannot be ignored in a democratic society.

Dr. JP appealed to all political parties and media sections to observe and promote restraint. While political parties have the right to carry on movements, they should not in the process foment hatred or disrupt normal life and undermine the future of the youth. Andhra Pradesh is already going through a crisis with investors shunning the State and the Government in a state of paralysis. Media houses should keep public interest in mind and not magnify trivial issues to attract eyeballs or boost circulation.

Answering another query, Dr. JP said that he welcomes TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu's marathon padayatra. Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, who has rich experience as a politician for over three decades, should now act like a statesman and come up with honest and concrete solutions to the State's umpteen problems and not focus on short-term gains.

Dr. JP revealed that people planning to float a new political party in New Delhi are in touch with the Lok Satta and added that there would have been no need for new parties had the existing parties played their role sincerely and correctly.

In reply to a query, Dr. JP said that courts too are to blame for repeated postponement of elections to local bodies under some pretext or the other proffered by the Government. Besides holding local body elections immediately, the Government should empower them by making a per capita grant of Rs.1500 to every village and every ward in urban areas.

Lok Satta Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma, Mr. M. Satya narayana, Lok Satta Party's Greater Hyderabad unit President, and Mrs. K. Gita Murthy, Mahila Satta leader, took part in the media conference.

Earlier Dr. JP unfurled the National Flag and Mr. Varma the Party Flag and paid floral tribute to Gandhi's portrait.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012 - 13:23

Pages