Fast-unto-death against corruption by Gandhian Satyagraha Brigade

Gandhian Satyagraha Brigade (GSB) is a non-party, not-for-profit all India organization of Gandhian persuasion, free from the scourge of communalism, casteism, regionalism and other divisible tendencies afflicting our country. Its membership consists of Freedom Fighters, Sarvodaya and social workers, retired High Court Judges, Educationists, Senior Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, Chartered Accountants, and retired Governors, IAS, IPS and other senior Civil and Defence Officers all concerned citizens from Delhi and other regions of the country, with none interested in power or money, name or fame.

GSB has been pursuing three demands since 1998 and which are now the three recommendations among others of the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) viz.- (i) Immediate appointment of an effective Lok Pal (ii) Confiscation of illegally acquired property of public functionaries and public servants (as recommended by Law Commission of India & ARC) and (iii) Disqualification of heavily tainted candidates for Parliament and State Legislatures, against whom criminal cases for serious offences are going on in law courts (as recommended by 3 former Chief Election Commissioners & ARC).

GSB has written innumerable letters since 1998 to all major functionaries of the political executive, including all Members of Parliament, for acceptance of the three demands but there has not been any satisfactory response.

Members and supporters of GSB are sitting on a relay fast since Jan 01, 2011 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, with these three demands. A few members of GSB sit on hunger strike from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day. This will continue till Jan 28, 2011.

If the government does not do anything by Jan 29, then seven (7) Gandhians will go on a fast-unto-death from Jan 30 (Martyrs Day, the day Mahatma Gandhi died), 2011.

The seven Gandhians who will go on the fast-unto-death include six freedom fighters who took part in the Quit India Movement and later struggles -- Shambhu Dutta (92 years), R. Saradamani Devi (84 years), K.P. Sahu (79 years), Murari Lal Gupta (94 years), Govind Narain Seth (78 years) and Amarnath Khanna (89 years). They will be joined in the Satyagraha by E. James Rajashekharan (51 years), a Gandhian and social activist from Tamil Nadu.

The ever-increasing corruption is destroying, nay, has destroyed, the moral fibre of the Nation. Corruption is not an issue limited to any one or a few political parties. Who will set this right, where shall a common citizen go, for the elimination of political corruption, except pressure from all, or a significant proportion of concerned citizens?

By signing this petition, you will express your support for effective and immediate steps to check the rising tide of corruption and maybe motivate the government to act in time to save precious lives, thus preventing a tragedy from unfolding on the conscience of the nation.

Mahatma Gandhi: Corruption will be out one day, however much one may try to conceal it, and the public can, as its right and duty, in every case of justifiable suspicion, call its servants to strict account, dismiss them, sue them in a law court or appoint an arbitrator or inspector to scrutinize their conduct, as it likes.

Edmund Burke: All that is necessary for the forces of evil to triumph in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.