Recently, there was an article in Greatandhra by an anonymous author about LSP getting crores of rupees from NRIs. As the organization of NRIs supporting Lok Satta, we are saddened to see another news article maligning the integrity of Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan and the Lok Satta party. We would like to set the record straight on the issues raised in the article.
The author seems to be unaware of how Lok Satta spends its party funds or its party building work or the work being done in Kukatpally under the leadership of Dr. JP. Lok Satta party (LSP), contrary to the statements in that article, continues to be aggressive in its party building activities. For example, even a casual perusal of the newspapers in the last week would have described the party's novel and hugely successful membership drive in MMTS trains in Hyderabad.
Lok Satta is the only political party that strives to keep its finances transparent for every paisa it receives. Any monetary contributions to LSP from abroad come only from Indian citizens and they are in the form of memberships and contributions to developing the party in some specific constituencies like Vizag or Sanathnagar, or for specific activities like constructing water plant in Matlam village, and they come by checks or credit cards. This money, like any money received by LSP, is fully accounted for and reported to Election Commision and party forums. And, the money from overseas supporters is only a small fraction of the total Lok Satta budget and it would take a huge deal of imagination to describe the contributions from overseas as large stacks of money.
Lok Satta Party’s total income in 2011 is 1.9 crore rupees and excess income left with party after expenses is 97 lakhs rupees. LSP or Dr. JP raising or spending crores of money whether it is from overseas or local residents is complete misinformation.
People who donate to LSP do because they feel that they know where it goes. The article makes it seem as if the money is somehow being stolen or forcibly taken from hesitant people, which is just not the case. Moreover what the overseas supporters of Lok Satta contribute is really a lot more than money.
They contribute their passion for the rejuvenation of India. It cannot be measured with any money. Finally if earning money or increasing his personal wealth is his primary aim, Dr. JP did not need to spend 13 years as a social activist and establish a new generation political party; he could have stayed with any one of the well paid and powerful positions he was at as civil servant and bureaucrat. He is here to change the system for the better.
In terms of what Dr. JP has done for Kukatpally, the allegations presented in the article are completely wrong. The information about the progress made on many issues in his constituency are available for public at the website www.kukatpallynow.com which is also being used for tracking complaints and progress made in the constituency. Many Public works are completed in the Kukatpally in the areas of healthcare, employment, anti-corruption, women's welfare, pipelines, water tanks, sumps. flyovers and 200 cc roads to improve traffic conditions, improvement to schools like 100 new classrooms and new toilets. Lok Satta team organized job melas that resulted in 2000 people getting new jobs. Water supply increased from 8 million gallons to 14 million gallons. LoK Satta team worked hard with several departments like GHMC, State Government, HMDA and the Central Railways to get the necessary permissions and monetary allocations for many of these projects.
Please remember that all this is achieved within three and a half years by a first term MLA, not belonging to the ruling party or the main opposition party, and representing an urban constituency with a uniquely complex set of problems. If there is another MLA with a similar record, we would appreciate knowing about it and support him.
Thank you for this opportunity to present some facts about Lok Satta and Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan. Lok Satta is not a party that needs money to bribe the masses. It relies on awakening the conscience of the people and their desire to see better lives for them and a better India.
Prasanna Meda,
President, People For Lok Satta.
