Amidst fending off corruption charges, BSY finds time to voice support for Hazare

Bangalore

Battling allegations of corruption, Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Friday extended support to social activist Anna Hazare, who is on an indefinite fast demanding a comprehensive Jan Lokpal Bill.

"Time has come for enactment of such a legislation to eradicate corruption in the country," he said here.

Yeddyurappa, facing charges of nepotism and favouritism in land denotifications, demanded that the centre take immediate steps to bring in a legislation to fight corruption which is rampant in the country.

Two advocates have filed five private complaints against Yeddyurappaa in a court here seeking his prosecution under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act after obtaining sanction from governor H R Bhardwaj.

The court had taken cognisance of the offences listed in the complaints and directed the Lokayukta police to investigate the charges.

However, Karnataka high court has stayed the proceedings on a petition by Yeddyurappa's son-in-law Sohan Kumar.

Dissidents in ruling BJP have been seeking the ouster of Yeddyurappa from chief minister's post citing allegations of corruption faced by him.

Yeddyurappa, who has denied all charges, was speaking after presenting the state government's Devaraj Urs Award to Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala D Veerendra Hegde in recognition of his services for the welfare of rural development and backward classes.

Hegde too supported Hazare's fight against corruption and suggested that the efforts should begin to check the menace at the village level.

"People should be in a position to display a signboard that their village is corruption-free and it should go up to taluk, district, state and country level," he added.

CPI advises govt to accept Jan Lokpal Bill recommendations

New Delhi

Extending support to Anna Hazare's agitation, the CPI today asked the government to accept the Jan Lokpal bill drafted by social activists and legal luminaries and table it in Parliament.

Terming the Lokpal Bill proposed by the government as "only an eye wash" and one which did not give any power to the Lokpal, party General Secretary A B Bardhan said the ongoing agitation was a reflection of the people's desire to eliminate corruption which is "eating away the vitals of the nation".

In a statement, he said, "Unprecedented corruption is on the rise in the recent period. Each day is uncovering new scams and financial misdeeds on the part of leaders of ruling party, and its political front. Nation is loosing lakhs of crores of rupees. While majority of the population is getting pauperised and is starving, corporate houses are increasing their profits manifold with the direct support of the government".

The veteran communist leader said the Jan LokPal Bill was the need of the hour and people's representatives, including the Prime Minister, Ministers, Judges and officials, should be made accountable.

Noting that the alternative Jan Lokpal Bill drafted by social activists and retired judges has been supported by his party, Bardhan said Hazare was demanding that it be tabled in Parliament.

Bardhan also appealed to all CPI units and the people to continue the agitation against corruption and black money on a bigger scale.

The CPI(M) and CPI-ML (Liberation) have also come out in support of Hazare's cause, asking the government to consult all political parties, social activists and citizens' groups to finalise a new draft Lokpal legislation.

Dipankar Bhattacharya of  CPI (ML-Liberation) fasts in support

Ranchi

CPI(ML-Liberation) General Secretary, Dipankar Bhattacharya, and his partymen today sat on a day's fast in support of social activist Anna Hazare, whose fast-unto-death entered the fourth day.

"About 100 of our partymen are sitting on fast to show support to Anna Hazare's demand for the Lokpal Bill, which the government should immediately accept," Bhattacharya told newsmen at the Albert Ekka Chowk here.

Claiming that privatisation has led to increase in corruption, he said, unless the government changed its policies on privatisation, the corporate sector would continue to get protection from them. "So we have to change policies to rein in corruption."

He said partymen were also on token fast in major towns and cities.