Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Friday opposed entry of foreign companies in the country, including steel major POSCO, saying such investors were exploiting the country’s natural resources for their own gain in the name of setting up industries.
“A brake should be put on entry of all foreign companies including POSCO in the country as they come and exploit our resources and loot farmers’ land for their gain,” Mr Hazare told a farmers’ rally in Jagatsinghpur.
Mr Hazare alleged that the Central and State governments were deciding sites for establishment of industries without consulting the affected people.
“Farming and non-farming lands are being snatched forcibly and handed over to companies against the wishes of the peasants,” he said.
“When land losers and uprooted farmers raise a voice of protest, their agitations are suppressed by lathis and bullets,” said the votary of a strong Jan Lokpal.
Maintaining that village committees and not the government should decide on acquisition of land for industries, he said the government must remember that people are the sole owner of the land.
Asking people, particularly farmers, to get united to fight against attempts at forcible acquisition of their land, Mr Hazare said a sustained movement was required to ensure a corruption-free society.
Unveiling a road map to strengthen his movement to have a strong Jan Lokpal, Mr Hazare said he would embark upon a country-wide tour from January 13 to unite people and peasants to fight corruption.
“If farmers get united, the government will be forced to bring a strong Jan Lokpal Bill. If it is implemented, it will reduce corruption by 65 per cent,” he said.
To mount pressure on the government for having a strong Jan Lokpal Bill, he said, people associated with the movement would gherao Parliament and State assemblies on March 13 next year if such a law was not enacted by then.
“Unfortunately, people are forgetting that they are the real masters while ministers and bureaucrats are their servants. Since the real masters are sleeping, servants are looting,” he said.
Keywords: foreign companies, Anna Hazare, farmers'rally, Odisha, Jagatsinghpur, Lokpal Bill
Is it okay for the non-foreign companys like BSNL, Hindustan Motors, and local kirana stores to exploit us? Why are we protecting them? Why are we afraid to have an open market where market forces explore the price of commodities?
“If farmers get united, the government will be forced to bring a
strong Jan Lokpal Bill. If it is implemented, it will reduce
corruption by 65 per cent,” he(Anna Hazare) said.
Above is absolutely true. People must realize, sure. But how?
Education is corrupted by coaching classes - which does not allow
critical thinking. To judge between good and bad for society needs
Critical thinking which our present system of Education does not
provide. Privatized substandard education - has attacked public
education in two fronts. 1. They have weaned away the good teachers
from public schools and colleges. 2. They have provided easy degree
and given jobs to their students - by wining and dining Industrial
recruiters. In the short run it is a winning formula - in the long
term it is a disaster waiting to happen. The 2nd generation of
Politicians are now the businessmen and musclemen themselves. They
were recruited by the 1st generation, crooks among politicians. But
now think they are no less.
A good point raised. People are looking only at the companies which are
coming. What about companies which are already there in India ? For
e.g. GE in Bangalore has thousands of brains working for their off-
shore clients. While it can be agreed that there are no alternative
Indian companies which make 'use' of this talent, Govt. should come
forward with technical R&D centres to tap this potential - in all
fields.
From Diaper to Digital camera, every thing in life is the mercy of western world and
technology, and why do we behave like cry babies when they want to invest. What
ever today India is because of British invasion and ruling and because of our own principles or ethics whether we accept or not. The educated know the truth and such people confuse the illeterates, to crate some news. The best example is west detected ultrasound for diagnosing fetal anomalies and we killed 3 crores of female infants with the same technology. Fault lies with us and our laws why blame some
one.
Please Email the Editor