Venkatachala gives call for fight against corruption

Bangalore, Aug 17 (UNI) Former Karnataka Lok Ayukta N Venkatachala today gave a call for a sustained fight against corruption for the overall development of the nation.

Releasing the first issue of 'Vikrantha Karnataka', a Kannada weekly here, he said ''our forefathers won the country's independence after a hard fight and sacrifice. However, even after 59 years of the country's freedom, its fruits have still not reached the majority of our rural areas.'' Mr Justice Venkatachala said the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi beleived that the country's soul rested in lakhs of villages.

However, they still remain neglected, with the villagers being deprived of all amenities, including good roads, potable drinking water and access to basic health facilities. ''The dreams of our forefathers and lakhs of those who had laid down their lives for the cause of independence have been shattered by rampant corruption.'' Exhorting the youths to raise their voice against corruption, he said that during his stint as Karnataka Lok Ayukta, he tried to arouse the spirit of the public against the corrupt system.

Senior Congress leader and former Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Karnataka Media Acadamy Chairman V N Subbarao, noted actress Tara were among those present on the occasion.

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