PM for a strong Lokpal but against fast as the solution

Agencies

New Delhi, 15 August 2011: On the occasion of the celebration of India’s 65th Independence Day today, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh played out a tradition that started with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru - unfurling the national flag at the Red Fort and then addressing the nation from the ramparts.

 

Addressing the nation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said it is the time "to rise above our personal or political interests and build consensus on issues of national importance".

 

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.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Manmohan Singh said there are some people who want to create disturbances in the country so that our progress gets stalled.

 

Addressing the corruption issue, the Prime Minister said that the government is taking strictest possible action in cases of corruption. "We want strong Lokpal to prevent corruption in high places," he said.

Manmohan Singh said that India needs a strong Lokpal Bill but fasting is not the answer. A day before Hazare is 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," Singh said.

 

The Prime Minister said that corruption needs to be fought on many fronts. "There is no single big step which we can take to eradicate corruption; no government has a magic wand to eradicate corruption," he 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.

 

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.

 

Singh, who devoted a major part of the speech on corruption, admitted the scourge was a "big obstacle" in the way of transformation of the country as a major economic power globally.

 

"In the last few months many instances of corruption have come to light. In some cases, functionaries of the Central government face allegations of corruption. In other cases, it is the functionaries of various state governments," he said.

 

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.

 

Singh, whose government has been under all-round attack, cautioned against creating an atmosphere in which the country’s progress comes into question. "Any debate on these matters should reflect the confidence that we can overcome these challenges," 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.