29.8.11

The No Bribe pledge

Minutes before Anna broke his fast, the 85,000-strong crowd at Ramlila Maidan solemnly took a vow with Arvind Kejriwal: “I swear that I will never in my life take a bribe or give a bribe.” They pronounced each and every word with the kind of conviction that only comes after years of suffering. Kejriwal’s oath captured the very essence of Anna’s protest and at the same time outlined the importance of the common man. As Kejriwal put it, this victory would be hollow unless people change their ways. Manoj Soni, a handyman from Jaipur, broke into tears as he vowed not to stray off the path of honesty. “We have been fighting against corruption but Arvindji reminded me of the corruption that is within all of us. It’s easy to take a bribe or give one. It’s a lot harder to refuse,” he said.

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