Anna's campaign cannot be called as a movement: Dwarakanath

September 11, 2011

Mangalore, September 11: Thrashing Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption, former chairman of State Commission for Backward Classes Dr C S Dwarakanath said that a civic society movement devoid of representatives from all the sections of the society can not be called as a movement.

He said Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption was not reliable as the people involved in the campaign including the civic society members themselves are corrupt in one or the other way.

He was speaking at a talk and interaction programme on “Corruption - causes and solution,” jointly organised by Social Justice Forum, Sahamatha Forum and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) in Mangalore on Saturday. Putting forth his views on the kind of fight against corruption taking place in the nation, he said there were three main loopholes in Anna's campaign.

“According to Dr B R Ambedkar, any movement is a failure if there prevails socio-economic inequality, unconstitutional methods and hero worship. Unfortunately all the three aspects were predominant in the recent campaign against corruption,” he said.

Delineating the same, he said the civic society members including Shanti Bhushan and Prashanth Bhushan, Aravind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi were all from upper castes. There is not even a single minority or backward class representative in the civic society formed by Anna. “Advocate Prashanth Bhushan charges up to Rs 40 lakh for a case from his clients for which he does not offer any receipts. Another civic society member Kejriwal has accepted donation of $ 4,000 million from Ford Foundation. Is it not corruption? What moral right do they all have to be a part of the campaign?” he questioned.

Dwarakanath said that at a time when India is facing multiple number problems including poverty and harassment of Dalits, why not such issues are highlighted? “Fighting for the humanity is of significance than fighting for corruption,” he opined, adding that 11 years of fast by Irom Sharmila in North East should be of more significance compared to the fight against corruption.

Meanwhile, he stressed on bringing corporate bodies, NGOs and religious institutions under the ambit of Jan Lokpal Bill.

Putting forth his point of view, Writer K Phaniraj demanded to bring corporate houses into the clutches of Jan Lokpal Bill. He said that Indian companies are looting and cheating the nation in the form of declaring non-performing assets.

The companies take loan from the banks, but fail to repay them. Yet, the companies are unaffected as the banks declare their surety as non-performing assets, which is nothing but corruption by the corporate houses, he said.

Social activist Prof Rita Noronha, Dr Niketana too spoke on the occasion. The talk was followed by a discussion.

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JDS managed to win 19 seats in 2023 Karnataka polls thanks to Muslim votes: C M Ibrahim

News Network

November 26,2024

Former minister and ex-MLC C M Ibrahim claimed that he still heads the original JD(S) and asked former prime minister and party supremo H D Deve Gowda to cut ties with the BJP, so that the party can be strengthened again. He also said options are being explored to either strengthen the JD(S) or to float a new regional party.

He was speaking to media persons, in Mysuru, on Monday, after meeting JD(S) MLA and former minister G T Deve Gowda, who has expressed his displeasure that he has been sidelined in the party and the party leaders have indicated his retirement from politics.

He stated, “If Deve Gowda had joined the Congress, during the last Assembly election, he would have been a minister now. We retained him in the JD(S), to strengthen the party. Now, efforts are being made to strangulate Deve Gowda’s political career. I have discussed all matters with Deve Gowda. In two days, I will start a Karnataka state tour and meet some leaders. After that, I will meet Deve Gowda again, and then decide on the further course of action.”

Ibrahim said, “The original JD(S) is ours. I am still its state president. All documents and accounts are in our name. Even now, if Deve Gowda leaves BJP’s company and returns, we will build the JD(S) again”.

“Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy should mend his ways and stop making JD(S) into a family-owned company. The JD(S)’s situation has become hopeless. Its love for the BJP is over. He should understand this,” he said.

“When I was with Kumaraswamy, he spent just Rs 4 crore in Channapatna and won by 20,000 votes. Now, without me, he spent Rs 150 crore and still lost by 25,000 votes. Without Muslims’ support, the JD(S) cannot win a single seat. Now, it is proved that 19 MLAs of the JD(S) won in 2023, because of Muslims,” he added.

Speaking on other options available, Ibrahim said, “We have not yet decided to go with the Congress. We are only considering to establish a third front. Whether it is founding a new regional party, forming a third front, or strengthening the JD(S), will be decided shortly.”

Earlier during the day, before meeting Deve Gowda, Ibrahim had said, that 12 to 13 JD(S) MLAs were dissatisfied with the party, but like Deve Gowda, were enduring pain.

“Now, I have started the task of uniting them. I as the JD(S) state president, it is my responsibility to address our MLAs’ grievances. At present, the JD(S) is on fire and all JD(S) MLAs want to protect their respective constituency. Hence, they have started speaking one by one,” he said.

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