Call for protection of whistleblowers

Mumbai: Even as anti-corruption crusader plans to hold a one day fast in New Delhi tomorrow to demand a strong whistleblower's protection system, his supporters will also hold a protest rally in Mumbai on the same day to offer their sympathy for the cause.

Whistleblowers are best defined as someone exposing wrongdoing, fraud or corruption within the government or a private company.

"The citizens of Mumbai feel strongly about enacting a legislation to root out corruption and black money and feel the need to protect ‘khabris' [messengers] and whistle blowers," said Preeti Sharma Menon, a volunteer of India Against Corruption (IAC).

This protest is to persuade the Government of India and Maharashtra to bring in a strong Lokpal and Lokayukta (anti-corruption ombudsman institution) with effective protection for whistleblowers, she added.

At least 15 Indians, who tried to blow the lid off corruption scams or fought the menace in other ways, have been killed since 2010.

These brutal killings raised the urgent need for a strong whistleblowers' protection system under control of Jan Lokpal and Jan Lokayukta, IAC members feel.