Full text of Modi's open letter to Advani ahead of yatra
Navratri and Vijayadashmi celebrations have just got over and everyone is now eagerly waiting for Diwali festivities. Honorable Shri. Lal Krishna Advaniji is starting his "Jan Chetna Yatra" from tomorrow, 11th October 2011. The entire nation is frustrated with the issue of corruption. People are seething with anger. There have been many instances of public outcry against the Congress government on the issue of corruption in the past. But three incidences that changed the direction of the history of the nation, are still fresh in the minds of people. Whenever there is a voice raised against corruption, the memory of these incidences will remain in public mind.
1974
If
there
was
collective
public
outcry
against
corruption
in
an
organized
manner,
for
the
first
time,
after
independence,
it
was
in
1974
in
Gujarat.
The
Congress
government
was
reduced
to
ashes
due
to
the
Nav
Nirman
movement
against
the
bad
administration
and
corrupt
practices.
After
that,
as
per
people's
mandate,
for
the
first
time,
a
non-Congress
Party
coalition
came
to
power
in
Gujarat.
1977
Taking
inspiration
from
Gujarat,
a
nationwide
agitation
against
corruption
started.
In
order
to
curb
the
public
voice,
Indira
Gandhi's
Congress
(I)
government
imposed
emergency.
Despite
many
atrocities,
the
determination
of
the
people
could
not
be
broken.
In
the
elections
conducted
after
emergency,
in
1977,
Congress
was
routed
throughout
the
nation
and
for
the
first
time
a
non-Congress
government
came
to
power
at
the
centre.
1989
The
Congress
(I)
government
which
came
to
power
with
overwhelming
majority
due
to
change
of
political
equations
was
again
neck
deep
in
corruption
charges.
The
Bofor's
scandal
brought
down
the
Congress
government
headed
by
Rajiv
Gandhi.
-
And
today
once
again,
the
Congress
government
at
the
center
is
immersed
in
serious
allegations
of
corruption.
While
on
one
hand,
in
the
wake
of
massive
public
anger
against
corruption,
Yoga
guru
Shri
Ramdevji
relentlessly
toured
across
India
to
create
an
atmosphere
against
black
money,
on
the
other
hand,
aged
veteran
social
reformer
Shri
Annaji
gave
shape
to
the
mass
agitation
through
his
fast.
While Baba Ramdev was more aggressive on the issue of black money, Shri Annaji devoted all his energy to the Jan Lokpal Bill.
Against this backdrop, Shri Advaniji's Jan Chetna Yatra holds a very special place, because of his fight against corruption, demand for bringing black money stacked in foreign banks, and in addition, creation of mass awareness and mass mobilization in support of these. I have faith that this Jan Chetna Yatra will create a new awakening against corruption and black money.
It is appropriate that this Yatra is starting from the native place of Jayaprakash Narayanji on his birth anniversary.
Sometimes
some
happy
events
also
shape
up.
Once
a
Chief
Minister
of
Bihar
had
stopped
a
Yatra
of
Advaniji.
It
is
a
matter
of
immense
pleasure
that
today,
the
Chief
Minister
of
the
same
state
is
flagging
off
Advaniji's
Yatra
.
I
have
been
honored
to
have
got
the
opportunity
of
closely
working
with
Honorable
Shri
Advaniji.
It
is
extremely
painful
and
shameful
that
some
vested
interests
are
spreading
false
rumors
about
Advaniji.
Advaniji, has dedicated his entire youth in the service of the nation and has served the country for 60 long years without break and that too, 90 percent of these years have been spent in the opposition party. One cannot help but feel pity for those who spread falsities that Advaniji, who from 1952 till today is sharing people's joys and sorrows , is undertaking this for attaining some post or position.
I believe that this "Jan Chetna Yatra" against corruption will change India's future. I have faith that this effort being undertaken by Advaniji, at such a senior age, will not go in vain.
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