"It's a victory for the people."
This
is the reaction of Mgr. Vincent Concessao, Archbishop of Delhi, to the
news that "the government has accepted the demands pf the Gandhian
activist Anna Hazare" on the Jan Lokpal Bill. In recent
days, the 72 year-old activist had begun a "hunger strike until death"
to protest against the rampant corruption that affects India.
Today
he stopped the protest, but announced his intention to continue the
battle to protect the poorest. From the outset the Indian Catholic
Church supported the protest of the civil rights leader, because - Fr
Cedric Prakash recalls- over the years "we have institutionalized
corruption in the country and the situation" becomes more complicated
when the big guys are involved. "
On 5 April, Anna Hazare launched a permanent sit-in at
Jantar Mantar in Delhi, the city's ancient astronomical observatory
built in 1700, announcing an indefinite hunger strike.
For years he has
been campaigning against the rampant corruption in the country, urging
the central government to tighten the dictates of the law now being
studied, the Lokpal Bill.
The Gandhian activist has also developed a personal version of the norm, the Jan Lokpal Bill,
which provides for the establishment of an independent authority with
powers of investigation and punishment of offenders, even including
members of the political-administrative class.
The government has issued
a note in which accepts Anna Hazare’s requests, specifying a joint
commission will be established made up of 10 people, including
ministers, members of civil society and the Gandhian activist. They will
have the task of drafting a bill to fight corruption in India.
Interviewed by AsiaNews, the Archbishop of Delhi
Mgr. Vincent Concessao called the news that the government accepted
Hazare’s demands a "victory of the people". The prelate has supported
the struggle of the activist from the outset and on April 5, was sitting
with him on the dias of the observatory.
"Corruption is immoral and
wrong - said the archbishop - and is contrary to moral and social
teachings of the Church."
He stresses that accepting bribes, cheating,
depriving the poor of their rights are all immoral behaviour and the
Church, instituted by Christ to work for justice, peace, truth and
development, has a duty to join the battle against corruption ".
The prelate said that the phenomenon mostly affects the
poor and marginalized, but also members of the middle class,
impoverishing and humiliating people.
"The gap between the rich and the
marginalized – he says - is widening and this phenomenon must be
stopped." Archbishop Concessao welcomes the "mass movement" that has
been created in recent days, "it has helped make people aware of their
rights," also showing "the way of non-violent protest."
"What is
important - said the archbishop - is that the method of Mahatma Gandhi
is still valid today."
The current laws against corruption are
"inadequate" and do not "protect" the victims of corruption.
Finally, he
also points at laws "that do not protect those who oppose the practice
of corruption" and asked the legislature to implement rules so that "the
courageous voices who denounce cases of corruption are not
extinguished."
The Archbishop of Delhi was joined by Fr. Cedric Prakash
sj, Director of Prashant, the Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice
and Peace, was also shared Anna Hazara’s battle from the beginning.
"Over the years - the Jesuit denounces - we have institutionalized
corruption in our country [...]We have taken it for granted that we have
to "cough up money" in order to get things done..be it a Railway
ticket,the repair of our telephone line or an admission in School".
The
priest says that "you can get a good job in the government, only by
paying a sum of money to 'those who count'."
And it gets worse when the
"big guys" as Fr. Prakash calls them are involved, such as the lobby of
the mining industry, the mafia behind the real estate moguls.
The Jesuit points to the recent case that has seen the
participation of thousands of poor farmers in Gujarat, who protested
against the forced expropriation of land by a powerful industry, without
success.
And again, the case for human rights activist Amit Jethwa, who
was killed in broad daylight for denouncing the interests of a group
affiliated to the BJP, involved in a series of illegal excavations in
the Gir Forest.
"With all these episodes and others - concludes
the Jesuit - we urgently need a real anti-corruption law in order to
understand how widespread the rot is."