New Delhi: “If our young generation is not happy with their present and is worried about the future, then they have to begin the change themselves and get more and more people to join them,” said Dr Kiran Bedi, to the thousands gathered at the Youth March against corruption and terrorism organized by the Art of Living Foundation and its youth wing, The World Alliance for Youth Empowerment (WAYE) and co-organiser Youth For Equality (YFE).
Under the aegis of the Art of Living’s founder, His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, WAYE and YFE aim at awakening and empowering citizens, especially youngsters, to effect a change and propel the youth towards nation-building. This pro-active initiative has a three-fold emphasis: Awareness, Accountability & Action.
In a message sent especially for the event, His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said,
“The whole country is just looking at you for you to take leadership. The youth of India should come upfront and unite against terrorism and corruption. Let us have a prosperous and just India.”
This movement will be taken across the nation through the year with the theme: “My Country Is My Valentine”. It will leverage the RTI, Citizens Charter, e-governance and free legal aid by youth lawyers during its course of action.
Addressing the gathering, Khurshed Batliwala, Director, WAYE, said, “The greatest danger that our country today faces is that of good people doing nothing.”
Other prominent speakers included Mr. Bitta (Chairman, All India Anti Terrorist Front), Mr. Prahlad Kakkar (Ad Guru & CEO, Genesis), Mr. Arvind Kejriwal (Pioneering activist – RTI and Magsaysay Awardee), Mr. Anirudh Bahl (Editor, Cobra Post & Writer), Prof. Binod Khaitan (President, AIIMS Faculty Association) & Mr. Chaudhry Zile Singh (President, BMS).
Mr. Prahlad Kakkar said, “When the young educated people of this country decide to be the change they want to see, no force on earth can stop them.”
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) with their 160 Delhi Unions extended their support to this initiative. As a mark of solidarity, the public transport system of BMS, including rickshaws, tempos, buses etc, did not ply at the airport and railway station, during the march from 2pm – 5pm.
Numerous citizens, educational institutions, residents’ welfare organisations, social service organisations, cultural organisations, corporate houses, NGOs, youth & citizen forums including Nasscom Foundation, Navjyoti, Navdaanya, Transparency International, BMS, among other notable names participated in the March.
