(Jan 31, 2011) Some 2,500 Indians from all religions, including Catholic Archbishop
Vincent Concessao of Delhi, protested in the capital on Sunday against rampant corruption
across the country. The rally also marked the 63rd anniversary of the death of Mahatma
Gandhi, leader of India’s freedom struggle. “Corruption arises when money becomes
more precious than a person,” Archbishop Concessao told Ucanews after the protest
at the Ram Lila Ground in New Delhi. India Against Corruption, a forum comprising
people from all religions, organized the protest. Similar rallies were held in 55
cities across the country. Archbishop Concessao lamented that Indians have failed
to uphold the country’s constitution that seeks to establish an egalitarian, just
and non-discriminatory society. “Corruption is injustice and injustice promotes corruption,”
he said. Kiran Bedi, a former police officer and winner of the Magsaysay Award for
Public Service, said a series of scandals involving top politicians and bureaucrats
in the last few months had shaken the nation’s conscience. Bedi, the country’s first
female police officer, noted that “every political party has misused power whenever
it got a chance to rule.” “Therefore, it is extremely important that citizens unite
to demand systemic changes.” Swami Agnivesh, a Hindu social activist and reformer
noted that corruption has rendered more people poor and hoped their rally will raise
awareness among people to fight the plague.