SHILLONG, Aug 24 � The fight against corruption, spearheaded by Anna Hazare, has been sanctified by a Church leader in Meghalaya who said �political education to elect clean leaders must go hand in hand with spiritual teachings.�
Taking part in the rally to support Anna Hazare�s nine-day indefinite fast against corruption, Reverend K Pyrtuh of the Presbyterian Church here said: �the Church and all religious groups must lay more emphasis on educating people so that morally and spiritually clean leaders are elected to enter the hallowed precinct of democracy.�
Asked about his motivation to join today�s rally, the Church leader said: �as a concerned citizen of India I am as troubled and saddened as others about the scourge of corruption in our country. As a member of the Church I am morally and spiritually inclined to take a stand against this sin (corruption).� The rally was taken out from Police Bazaar to Laitumkhrah and was attended by a cross section of the society.
Right to Information activist, Michael Syiem, on the other hand, said, corruption in Meghalaya is endemic. �Look at the figures�the number of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in Meghalaya has increased from 49 per cent in 2001 to 66 per cent in 2011 despite all the welfare schemes,� he pointed out.
Agnes Kharshiing, a women social activist, dismissing the government bill on corruption as �Jokepal� said, the Central Government must awaken to the fact that the people would not accept a bill which does not effectively address the menace of corruption.