Press Releases Archive

Lok Satta suggests a way out to get over reservations issue in local elections

The Lok Satta Party today demanded that the State Government conduct elections to local bodies as soon as possible in the wake of the High Court judgment.

Addressing a media conference, Lok Satta Party leaders feared the Government might use the High Court stipulation that reservations shall not exceed 50 percent as an excuse to postpone elections.

Considering that people have been going through untold hardships in the absence of elected governments, political parties could overcome the problem if they all sit together and agree to allocate seats to backward classes as per their old quota and make up for the loss in reservations they suffer in the light of the High Court verdict.

Lok Satta leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao, Bhisetty Babji, J. Irama Murthy and Y. D. Rama Rao wholeheartedly welcomed the High Court directive on local body elections.

They said that the Government should go beyond organizing elections and empower local governments as envisaged in the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments. The State Government should devolve powers, resources and personnel on local governments. It should make a per capita grant of Rs.1000 to every panchayat and ensure that problems in villages are addressed at the village level and not at the State level.

Mr. Irama Murthy said that if elections are held and local governments empowered, the Chief Minister need not undertake Indiramma Baatas or hold rachchabandas and grant pensions or houses since they can be handled better by a village sarpanch. The Chief Minister should attend to State-level problems and not descend to the level of a sarpanch, he added.

The Lok Satta leaders also demanded that elections be held to municipalities and municipal corporations and liberate them from rule by bureaucrats.

Mr. Y. D. Rama Rao, Lok Satta leader from East Godavari, faulted the Government for taking a technical and legalistic view of the allegations by an Assistant Superintendent of Police against the East Godavari Superintendent of Police on the nexus between ganja smugglers and top police officials. Instead of ordering a thorough and impartial inquiry into the serious allegations including lakhs of rupees changing hands every day, the Government chose to suspend the whistle blower. Had the Assistant Superintendent of Police had confidence in the Government acting on his charges, he would not have gone public.

Mr. Rama Rao demanded that the Government provide protection to the aggrieved ASP since he feared a threat to his life.

Mr. Rama Rao and Mr. Katari Srinivasa Rao said that people have been losing faith in police machinery to such an extent that they are afraid of even lodging an FIR (first information report). Instances of indiscipline among police personnel have become more frequent.

It is time the Government undertook reforms to shield the police from political interference and ensure they are transparent, impartial and accountable.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012 - 18:36

Lok Satta National Summit Calls for United Surajya Movement

The first national leadership summit of the Lok Satta Party has called upon all forces, organizations and individuals to join hands in launching a national movement for good governance (Surajya).

The movement aims at eradication of corruption, decentralization of power, cleansing of poverty perpetuating politics, provision of education and healthcare as a right to citizens, introduction of proportional representation system and promotion of internal party democracy.

The national leadership summit held in Hyderabad on September 1 and 2 was attended by 45 leaders drawn from seven States and the People for Lok Satta based in foreign countries.

The summit elected Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan national President of the party and a national Steering Committee comprising Messrs Surendra Srivastava (Maharashtra), Aswin Mahesh (Karnataka), Abhjit Mehta (Mumbai), Mustan Tambawala (Mumbai) Anurag Kejriwal (Delhi) and MBNVV Prasad (Treasurer). The summit decided to elect a General Council comprising two representatives from each State and the People for Lok Satta.

Briefing media on the resolutions adopted by the summit, Dr. JP recalled that innumerable individuals and organizations have embraced the agenda outlined by the Lok Satta movement 16 years ago. It is time that eminent Indians like Aruna Roy of National Campaign for Peoples' Right to Information, Anna Hazare of India Against Corruption, Govindacharya of Save Democracy Front and others belonging to Navabharat and other organizations should all join hands to lead the second freedom struggle. Since there is agreement among all such leaders on basic issues like eradication of corruption, decentralization of power and electoral and political reforms, they should come together to herald a better India for the next generation.

Dr. JP made it clear that the Lok Satta is prepared to take the initiative for launching the united movement setting aside its flag and name. The need of the hour is united leadership and a common agenda. It will be a historical blunder if leaders magnify their minor differences and plough their lonely furrows. “No sacrifice is too great and no burden is too heavy in the quest for fulfilling the potential of all Indians” he said.

Dr. JP disclosed that the Lok Satta is communicating its views to the Parliamentary Committee on constitution of Lokpal, Lokayuktas and Ombudsmen on September 6. In order to present a united approach before Parliament, Lok Satta is inviting leaders of other movements to join the delegation. Its initiatives for a national judicial commission, Indian judicial service and citizens' charter are being considered by the Union Government.

In reply to a question, Dr. JP reiterated his suggestion that a windfall profits tax be imposed on those who benefit from coal mine allocations in the past and that mines be allocated hereafter through open auction.

Lok Satta Party Tamil Nadu unit President Jagadeeswaran, leaders Senthil Armugam and Siva Ilango, Karnataka unit President Mrs. Ramalakshmi, and Delhi President Anurag Kejriwal took part in the media meet.

Monday, September 3, 2012 - 18:40

Dr. JP for installation of Ambedkar Statue before month-end

Lok Satta Party National President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today requested the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly to install a statue of Dr. Baba Saheb B. R. Ambedkar before September 2012.

He told Telangana Jagriti President K. Kavita, who met him at the Lok Satta Party headquarters, that the Lok Satta Party fully supported her demand for an Ambedkar statue in the Assembly premises. The Lok Satta Party carries a portrait of Dr. Ambedkar along with that of Mahatma Gandhi in its banner.

Since every one cutting across party lines is in favor of installing a statue of Dr. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. JP wanted the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker to act before this month-end when the Assembly is scheduled to meet.

Mrs. Kavita expressed happiness over Dr. JP informing her that the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker have responded favorably to his request on the statue issue.

Monday, September 3, 2012 - 18:40

Pages