Rao's kin, friends vow to complete his unfinished work of eliminating corruption

Rao's kin, friends vow to complete his unfinished work of eliminating corruption
JOYDEEP RAY

NADIAD (KHEDA), AUG 20: Shocked by the self-immolation of Bharat Rao, Nadiad is preparing to be up in arms against corruption in the Nadiad Nagarpalika. Residents of Gayatri Park Society, where Bharat Rao's family lives, have sworn to launch an agitation against corrupt civic officials in a big way.

``Let the rituals be completed. We will be on the streets to finish the job he left behind and we are ready to pay any price,'' said Varun Mahulkar, a local resident.

However, even before the tears dry up in the eyes of those who knew Rao, it is the attitude of the BJP, which has disowned him, that is hurting the residents.

When an Indian Express team visited Rao's house, posters and badges of the BJP were still on the walls. His family-members said Rao was attached to the BJP for nearly 12 years. He also stated this before an executive magistrate in his dying declaration at the Ahmedabad civil hospital.

``He was associated with the BJP for long, but as he raised his voice and protested against the misdeeds of the BJP-ruled nagarpalika, the party has now disowned him,'' said Praful Thakkar, a local resident.

On Thursday, BJP leaders, including Nagarpalika president Durga Jeswani, visited Rao's house and Congress leaders, including Navin Bhavsar, also expressed their sympathies. But Rao's family members and residents dismiss these as crocodile tears.

``We do not want to see any political leaders here. Whatever were the dreams of Bharat, we will fulfill them,'' said Mahesh Rao, Bharat's younger brother.

Asked Praful Thakore, ``Where were these political leaders when he raised his voice against corruption? Where were they when he sat on a 46-day-long fast? Nobody lent him an ear.''

``Now that he has set himself ablaze and the media exposure has led to a hue and cry, the BJP has washed its hands off, saying that he was their man while the Congress tries to call him a Congress worker,'' Thakkar added.

Two years ago, in 1998, when Bharat went on his `indefinite fast', protesting against corruption and measures to check it, top district officials had assured action. ``But if action was initiated, then why he had to take such a drastic step?'' remarked V G Brahmbhatt, Bharat's uncle.

He alleged that as Bharat's protests had caused ``inconvenience'' for officials of the civic body and political activists, ``they started calling him an eccentric person''.

A former Congress member of the Nagarpalika said that even during the Congress rule, Bharat had raised certain issues, but no one paid any attention. However, in the last 18 months of the BJP rule, he became more vocal and insistent, said the Congress leader, who did not want to be identified.