The Prime Minister said creation of Lokpal as an institution would not solve the problem and reiterated that there was no 'magic wand' to remove corruption.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said the creation of the Lokpal as an institution would help tackle corruption, but would not solve the problem.
He pointed out that a comprehensive restructuring of the government system and procedures was necessary for cleaning up the system. “Clean it up we must,” he said, noting that some areas, such as government discretion in allocation of scarce resources, led to corruption.
Delivering his address at the golden jubilee of the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta at Joka near here, Dr. Singh said there was no single solution to the problem and there was need to act on multiple fronts. “The complexity of the task is not adequately appreciated,” he said.
He reiterated that the government was open to a reasoned debate. “It has long been argued that we need an institution like the Lokpal. We have introduced a Bill in Parliament, which is now before the Standing Committee. There are differences of opinion on details of the Bill. We have made it clear that all concerned individuals should convey their concern on different aspects of the Bill to their representatives in Parliament and to the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee has the power to propose any amendment. We are open to a reasoned debate on all these issues,” Dr. Singh said.
Emphasising the need for finding a systemic solution, the Prime Minister exhorted the IIM fraternity to come forward. “As managers, you can contribute to the process by suggesting mechanisms that would create transparency,” he said. He stressed the need to strengthen the regulatory framework and its technical capacity, saying that many of the recent controversies that had arisen were due to the inadequacies of regulatory institutions. He stressed the need for judicial reforms.
Dr. Singh said there was need to thoroughly revamp government procedures to reduce discretion and to make decision-making as transparent as possible.
“Many countries have a law to govern government procurement. We propose to introduce legislation along these lines. The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law has recently modified its earlier model procurement law. We can benefit from this latest “model law” and internalise best international practices. I would urge State governments to do the same,” he said.
Rejecting the arguments by some that economic liberalisation had ushered in corruption, he said: “This is completely mistaken.” Reforms such as abolition of licensing eliminated corruption. Dr. Singh said the aam aadmi faced corruption when he had to pay a bribe to facilitate ordinary transactions with government. Beneficiaries of government programmes faced corruption when those in charge of implementation misappropriated funds.
Keywords: Anna Hazare fast, JP Park, Jan Lokpal, anti-corruption movement, India Against Corruption, civil society, Rajghat, Tihar jail, Ramlila Maidan
The scarlet thread of corruption runs through every fabric of our society. The goal of rooting out corruption is magnificent. But the means of achieving the same are equally important. It cannot be achieved with a single master stroke as Hazare imagines. Not all can agree with the arm-twisting tactics of Anna. The beauty of our parliamentary system must be held close to our hearts at every step that we take to stamp out corruption. No one should be allowed to by-pass the well-established procedures of our parliamentary system that our forefathers so assiduously built up. Otherwise our country is bound to degenerate into chaos and anarchy. Think of Libya, think of Syria, think of Myanmar... think of a host of other nations panting for a system that satisfies the masses. We have it, but refine it, if necessary, by well-thought out means encompassing the masses and building on the pillars of democracy.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on every opportunity he gets, tells that Lokpal would not solve 'corruption'. He repeated it yesterday (Monday) at the Indian Institute of Management in Kolkata. His words indicate his half-hearted approach in the proposed legislation. He often speaks, in a casual manner, of tools like a magic wand to solve the problem which, he promptly regrets, he is not in possession of. If he were serious and capable in elimination of corruption at the highest levels of power, he should have prepared a suitable Bill. His observation is presumably intended for many of his partymen and partners in his ruling coalition, many of whom are at home with the present set-up of corrupt and criminalised politics. The Prime Minister's statement appears to be a repeated assurance to them, on their vested interests, in return for their continued support to his Ministry. In a lighter vein, someone was heard commenting that the PM actually refers to a Lokpal, without the PM, MPs and higher judiciary out of its purview, One should not be thankless to forget PM's observation, targeted at the people of the country, a majority of whom is at present in an anti-corruption mood behind Anna Hazare, that Lokpal would help tackle corruption.
All the eye's are towords Anna Hazare. Some praise him as the greatest leader and freadom fighter. Some of us says, his means and intentions are purely anti-democratic. And there are also people like me that are confused with the situation. Whom to support or what to do. As the best of our knowledge, what Anna says is correct. But cannot sure about the agitation methods and it may overwhelm the goverment and the situation will go worse. And we are sure that, the 'One man show' being followed by the Anna will not do any good four our democracy. The solidarity offered to the agiation doesn't give a clear idea. We are not sure about the hands behind the agitation Hunger strike promoters.
Most of the people are abusing Mr. Prime Minister in the flow of Anna's fasting. I have not seen anything wrong in his statements on these different issues. He is the most intelligent, corrupt free, calm PM among the world leaders I have ever seen from india. Anna's demand is quite undemocratic to include PM and CJ. If any independent body has the sole power to watch the most supreme peoples parliament then what is the credibility of 120 Millions. Definitely Jan lokpal would act as autonomy in the long run and that is totally undemocratic, unconstitutional and Idiotic. However we could favor to include MPs but not PM and CJ in lokpal ambit. Those who are abusing PM should have to know the fact that what we enjoy today (today’s india’s economy) is due to the reforms made by Mr. Manmohan in 91s. Liberalization, Globalization is his ideas. We all Indian needs to curb corruption but we must be aware of Indian constitution and parliamentary system.
As said by the prime minister, a comprehensive restucturing of the government and in deed, the judicial system is necessary at this moment. But, actually, the centre shows less interest in such endeavours. The central government's responsibility is to mitigate corruption by systematic processes and to bring in peace to the country. If this condition continues, then people will conclude congress statements as deliberate evasion from implementing transperancy.
The Pm's comments that Corruption has to be tackled on multiple fronts is true and so are most of his other remarks , my only question is why have they waited till now? What were they doing till Anna prodded them ? they never felt the necessity till now and now they r jumping around trying to prove how committed they are to removing corruption,because they are in trouble . That is not the sort of govt the people want . Especially a govt insensitive & unresponsive to the people ,a govt which behaves in a dictatorial & arrogant fashion , is not at all acceptable.
He is saying all the right things but only in words and not in action. This government has been talking about "Zero tolerance to corruption" for so long but haven't done anything yet to prove it, so how can they expect the people to trust them that they are working towards getting rid of corruption?
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