By Aires Rodrigues.
Fighting corruption and battling injustice is no easy task. One often faces a backlash by way of crank calls, vicious anonymous letters and,more seriously, the risk of an attempt on one’s life. Over the last four decades I have seen and endured it all. The 13th October 2008 brutal attack at Ashok Restaurant was the worst so far, but I had a miraculous escape. My time may have not have been up then. During the Congress rule I was branded as a BJP agent, the BJP may now feel that I am a Congress man.
In the last over 100 days the Manohar Parrikar government has taken a whole lot of wrong decisions and reneged on many of the promises made. And speaking out against all this is an imperative of civic conscience. My friends now keep cautioning me to be extra careful. They fear and anticipate, I may be harmed. They keep reminding me that the current government has a record of being vindictive and ruthless. However,whatever the risk one has to take this government cannot be allowed to function in the manner and on the path it is threading.
Over the years nobody has been able to intimidate me. I have never been cowed down by any threats or consequences that I have had to facefor speaking out fearlessly. Individuals come and go but the battle against Corruption and injustice can never be put aside. It is comforting that today a lot of youth, even in the rural areas, are conscious and alive to their duty to preserve social order. So this battle is here to stay and will go on with many more joining in. I have never hesitated to take on the powerful and mighty over a widerange of issues. I have never shied away from pursuing a whole host of issues involving senior politicians and well-connected bureaucrats.Even that October 13th, 2008 attempt on my life did not slow or cow medown.
I have had nothing personal against anyone while raising and fightingi ssues concerning public good. My highlighting an issue is bound tohurt some individuals. Have I hurt one too many? One has to have thespine to speak out against things that are wrong. I will relentlesslycontinue to high light any injustice that I see. Nothing shall determe, my commitment and determination in this regard. The risk of having to lay down one’s life is a very small price that one may have to payin the bigger struggle against corruption and injustice. With theOpposition parties having withdrawn to their cages, the role ofordinary citizens in acting as watch dogs to sniff out, check and highlight the misdeeds of this government becomes all the morecrucial.
Looking back over the last four decades, I do not regret having taken up any of the issues that I did. At times one pays a heavy price and fighting public causes does take a toll on your personal and family life. It’s been a long battle which I will carry till my very last. Many have advised me to at least carry a revolver for self defence. I feel more secure and protected with a 10 rupee court fee stamp in mypocket and the mantra of ‘Satyameva Jayate’ on my lips. That is allyou need to file an application under the Right to Information Act. Tounravel corruption, nepotism, injustice and fight against it. This isa battle that needs to be waged and must just go on.
