Dandi March II in US against corruption in India

A240-mile walk in the US against corruption in India organized by a group of NRIs inspired by the historic Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi culminated with events across the US.

Starting at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, San Diego, March 12, 'Dandi March II' passed through Los Angeles and ended March 26 at Gandhi Statue, San Francisco. The dates coincide with the dates Gandhi did in his historic march in 1930.

As many as 45 cities in USA, 40 cities in India and 8 other countries globally joined the movement by organizing and supporting events March 26, the organizers of the march led by Jawahar Kambhampati and Srihari Atluri said.

Solidarity walks were held in severalcities in USA, India and other countries.

Houston, Texas

Solidarity walks were held in several cities in USA, India and other countries.

'While Dandi March I was a campaign of nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, Dandi march II is a campaign against corruption in India,' they said. Indians across the globe, as far as from Nagpur to New Jersey and Sydney to Seattle shouted in one voice to enact 'Jan Lokpal' bill and ratify the UN Convention against Corruption, the group said. Their slogans included 'corruption ko hatana hai, Bharat ko bachana hai' or 'we will end corruption to save India'.

The marchers also chanted 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram', Gandhiji's favorite prayer. While volunteers stopped at the signals/junctions shouting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', inspired onlookers in the cars waved and honked to show support. In US, on the last day, events were conducted in 14 cities with major gatherings in San Francisco, Seattle, New Jersey, Houston and Carbondale.

An open letter addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was released globally at every location that they will not be mute spectators while corruption grows boundless back in India and as such system changes should be brought in.

Later Kambhampati, who was the initiator of Dandi March II, 'submitted a memorandum to Gandhi to save the country from corruption.'

Many of the marchers are planning to continue the movement by joining Anna Hazare's fast in Delhi April 5 for the same cause. The primary objectives of the Dandi March II was to push the government to enact Jan Lokpal bill and ratify UNCAC (UN Convention against Corruption) in Indian Parliament, which are designed to free India from the clutches of corruption, and to bring back the stolen money from foreign banks.

Solidarity walks are being held in several cities in USA and India as well as in Australia, Canada, Dubai, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, London, Malaysia, Singapore and Switzerland.

The outpouring of support for the event signifies the overwhelming concern of Indians to the great threat corruption poses for the survival of India. Sunil Kumar, editor of Dainik Chattisgarh flew from India to join the 240 mile walk. In India, older generation Indians lead by Rajkumar Singh supported by Amrit Bhai Modi and others started at Sabarmati Ashram to retrace Gandhiji’s steps, reaching Dandi on April 6. In Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, about 100 people came together to pray for the success of the Dandi March II. TV Journalists flew to the area to cover the program for 15 days. It was covered widely in Indian national and local media. Indian organizations like Youth for Better India (YBI), People For Lok Satta, India Against Corruption (IAC), 5th Pillar, Bharat Swabhiman, TANA, Sankara Eye Foundation, Oruma, TASC, Save India From Corruption, Saaku, Life Yessence Accadamy, Jago and Individuals like Dr. Prem Sagar Reddy, Navin Chandra Doshi and others have extended their support for the march.

[BY MADHU PATEL]