Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gestures before leaving after his address to the nation on India’s Independence Day at the Red Fort monument in New Delhi on Aug. 15. (AP Photo)
New Delhi, August 15 (PTI): With government facing attack over multiple scams, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday promised a strong Lokpal to end corruption in high places and asserted that hunger strikes will not help address the problem, in an apparent reference to Anna Hazare’s agitation. Addressing the nation for the eighth consecutive year on the occasion of Independence Day, Dr. Singh said no government has a “magic wand” to deal with the problem of corruption which needs to be tackled on many fronts and asked all political parties to “stand shoulder to shoulder” in this fight.
Lokpal Bill
A day before Mr. Hazare was to embark on an indefinite fast demanding a strong Lokpal, he made it clear that only Parliament can decide what type of Lokpal legislation can be enacted. “I am aware of the differences of opinion on some aspects of the bill. Those who don’t agree with this bill can put forward their views to Parliament, political parties and even the press. However, I also believe they should not resort to hunger strikes and fasts-unto-death,” Dr. Singh said. Acknowledging that corruption is a big obstacle in national transformation, he said the menace should be discussed in a manner that should not create an atmosphere in which country’s progress comes into question.
He also admitted that funds meant for welfare of common man end up in the pockets of government officials.
Various issues
Speaking from a bullet-proof enclosure amid rains, the Prime Minister touched on a variety of subjects including the sensitive land acquisition issue, naxalism, terrorism, economy and inflation. Unlike in the past, foreign policy issues found no mention in his 40-minute speech on the 65th Independence Day from the historic 17th century Mughal monument of Red Fort.
On corruption cases
With a number of corruption cases pending before different courts, the Prime Minister chose not to comment on specific scams like 2G, Commonwealth Games and Adarsh. “We are taking the strictest possible action in cases of corruption that have surfaced. I will say nothing more on this subject as these cases are sub-judice,” he said. “Corruption manifests itself in many forms. In some instances, funds meant for schemes for the welfare of the common man end up in the pocket of government officials. In some other instances government discretion is used to favour a selected few. “There are also cases where government contracts are wrongfully awarded to the wrong people,” he said, asserting that the government cannot let such activities continue unchecked.
Strong Lokpal Bill
Hunger strikes will not solve corruption problems: PM
Noting that the government was keen on a “strong” Lokpal to prevent corruption in high places, Dr. Singh said, “we have recently introduced a Bill in Parliament to achieve this. Now only Parliament can decide what type of Lokpal legislation should be enacted.”
The Prime Minister said he believed that there was “no single big step” which we can take to eradicate corruption. “In fact, we will have to act simultaneously on many fronts,” he said. Sending out a strong message to those indulging in scams, he said, “everyone should know that quick action will be taken against the corrupt and punishment meted out to them.”
Judiciary in Lokpal
On Team Anna’s demand for bringing higher judiciary in the purview of Lokpal, he said it was “not appropriate” as “we believe that any such provision would go against the independence of the judiciary“. He, however, said there was a need for a “framework in which the judiciary becomes more accountable. It is with this aim that we have introduced the Judicial Accountability Bill in Parliament.”
Scarce resources
Admitting that government discretion was “misused in allocation of scarce resources and in the grant of clearances”, Dr. Singh said they will put an end to such discretionary powers wherever possible and he hopes to enact a public procurement legislation by the end of this year. “Any government awards contracts worth thousands of crores every year. There are frequent complaints of corruption in these decisions. We had constituted a committee to suggest measures to reduce corruption in government purchases.
“The committee has recommended that, like many other countries, we should also have a public procurement legislation which lays down the principles and practice with regard to government purchases. We will introduce a Bill in Parliament by the end of this year to enact such a law,” he said.
RTI keeps ‘strict watch’
Highlighting the role of RTI in keeping a “strict watch” on the work of the government, he said, “today many government decisions, which in the absence of this Act would escape public scrutiny, are coming to light. I believe that this is a big step forward in eradicating corruption.”
Dr. Singh noted that an alert press and an aware citizenry can be very helpful in the fight against corruption. The Indian press is known for its independence and activism throughout the world. The RTI legislation that we have enacted has enabled our press and people to keep a strict watch on the work of the government, he said.
On land acquisition
The Prime Minister also spoke about problems surrounding the procurement of land and promised the enactment of a “forward looking and balanced” law to prevent tensions over the sensitive issue soon. Dr. Singh said that the government wants to replace the 117 year old land acquisition law by a new Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation law which is forward looking and balanced. “We have already prepared a draft legislation and have initiated steps to build consensus on it. We will soon introduce a Bill in Parliament to this end,” he said.
Hazare calls for revolution to change govt, system
New Delhi, August 15 (IANS): A day ahead of his proposed fast, social activist Anna Hazare Monday called for a revolution to “fight against the government and change the system”. He also said he has faith in the country’s parliament but the government was not producing the correct version of the Lokpal bill before it. “We believe completely in the country’s parliament but the government is producing the flawed version of the bill before it,” said Hazare reacting to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that the Lokpal bill had been introduced in parliament.
Hazare further said that the fight for a stringent Lokpal bill is fine, but there is a need for a revolution to change the prevalent system in the country. “A revolution on a much larger scale is the need of the hour to fight against the government and change the system,” he said.
