GUWAHATI, March 9 � A popular forum against corruption was constituted at a meeting of freedom fighters, senior citizens, journalists, writers and social activists at freedom fighters� Rest House today.
The meet held under the presidentship of senior journalist DN Chakravartty resolved to launch a vigorous drive garnering cooperation of all sections of the people to root out corruption at various levels of the administration, legislature, judiciary and social life in the State.
The convenor of the meeting, retired DGP Nishinath Changkakati, while explaining the purpose of the meeting, hinted at taking up of short-term, medium-term and long-term measures to weed out at the first stage corruption in the administrative machinery.
Senior journalist and author Homen Borgohain, while participating in the discussion, said that the country had been engaged in fights against corruption right from the days of Guljarilal Nanda at the Centre and Nilamoni Phukan in Assam. He also mentioned about the epic struggle launched by HD Shourie in the 1960s and 1970s against corruption.
Former Vice Chancellor, Dibrugarh University, Kamaleswar Bora suggested that commitment should be secured from all the candidates in the ensuing Assembly election regarding their honest discharge of duties and abhorrence of corruption.
Several speakers including former MLA Premadhar Bora, freedom fighters Kamakhya Ram Das, Jatin Goswami, Puspa Bora, Dr Rohini Kumar Baruah, Karunakanta Baruah, writer Badal Das, trade union leader Khanindra Chandra Das, Dr Ramen Bhuyan and Dr Hashim Ahmed referred to the deleterious effects of corruption on society and the danger posed to the well-being of the nation.
They suggested that an all-out endeavour should be made with active assistance of the press and the electronic media to root out corruption from social life.
Chakravartty, in his presidential address, said that only a joint endeavour of honest journalists, idealistic writers, and a corruption-free judiciary could secure a healthy environment for the corruption-ridden society.
The meet decided to issue a general appeal to the people of Assam to fight relentlessly at corruption at all levels and to get a form of promise issued from the newly-elected MLAs of the next Assembly that they would refrain from all kinds of corrupt behaviour and action.
The meet constituted an executive committee with Nishinath Changkakati as president, Dr Rohini Kumar Baruah as working president and Jagat Bora and Puspa Bora as joint secretaries.
Other members of the committee are Homen Borgohain, Kamaleswar Bora, Jatin Goswami, Khanindra Chandra Das and DN Chakravartty.
