By IANS,
New Delhi : Two days after they took out an anti-Jan Lokpal bill rally, the Dalit group leading the protest Friday clarified that they were not against Anna Hazare and only wanted representation in the Lokpal.
In a press-conference here, chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations Udit Raj said the rally was not against Anna Hazare.
“There are misgivings that the rally of 24th August was against Anna Hazare’s campaign, but that is not true,” Raj said here.
“From our rally it was asked to those who crafted the Jan Lokpal Bill why did they not include corporate houses, media and NGOs? Annaji was asked why he kept silent when north Indians in Maharashtra and Muslims in Gujarat were targeted and brutalized? He was also asked to express his views on reservation for Dalits,” he added.
The group also presented its own version of the anti-graft bill, the Bahujan Lokpal bill and demanded representation for all groups and society in the Lokpal.
“In the Lokpal committee, the representation of Dalits, backward castes and minorities should be there, as it is in the government services,” Raj said.
“Our society is not only caste ridden but at the same time it is multicultural and religious also. So the representation of each major community should be taken care of. The corruption is more social in nature than political, therefore, without addressing it, there is no possibility to weed it out,” he said.
The group also demanded inclusion of corporate houses, NGOs and the media in the ambit of the bill.