NEW DELHI, August 22: Indian Prime Minister declared today that existing government procedures need to be revamped thoroughly to curb corruption.
Addressing a gathering at the Indian Institute of Management-Kolkata, Manmohan Singh said that Lokpal Bill has the power to check corruption, but cannot solve the problem.
“We are open to a reasoned debate on all the issues. The creation of the Lokpal as an institution will no doubt help but it will not solve the problem,” he said.
As the indefinite fast of civil society leader Anna Hazare over a stringent Lokpal Bill entered its seventh day on Monday, the Prime Minister appealed to all concerned to convey their concerns to their representatives in Parliament and to the standing committee that is examining the legislation.
He also emphasised on judicial reforms. “The creation of the Lokpal as an institution will help. But it will not solve the problem. It needs to be supported by improvements in the pace and quality of judicial processes. Speedy trials and timely judgements will do a great deal to discourage corruption and dispel the notion that those who break the law can get away scot free. This requires a number of judicial reforms”.
“We need to thoroughly revamp existing government procedures to reduce discretion and to make the basis of decision making as transparent as possible. I have asked a Group of Ministers to look into this issue and I am confident we will come up with a systemic solution,” he said.
Quoting from his Independence Day speech on August 15 from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort here, Singh said: “There is no magic wand that can solve the problem in one stroke. There is no single solution. We need to act on a multiplicity of problems.”
“We need an intuition like the Lokpal, and we have introduced a bill before the Parliament, which is now before the standing committee,” he said.
Corruption not only weakens the moral fibre of the country, it also promotes inefficiency and cronyism which undermine the social legitimacy of market economics, the prime minister said.
“It also creates a trust deficit which ultimately weakens our ability to act unitedly. I believe all right thinking persons are agreed on the need to act to tackle all these forms of corruption. But I feel the complexity of the task is not adequately appreciated,” he added.
He pointed out that the funding of elections and of political parties happens to be yet another area which calls for reforms to reduce the scope of generation of black money.
Singh sought to dispel the popular impression that the economic reforms that he had introduced 20 years ago as the then finance minister have led to widespread corruption.
He said: “There are some who argue that corruption is a consequence of economic liberation and reforms. This, of course, is completely mistaken. Many of the areas, which have actually seen systemic reforms have also seen the disappearance of corruption. Industrial licensing, import licensing and rationing of foreign exchange are good examples,” said Singh.
Meanwhile, the 73-year-old retired-soldier-turned-Gandhian activist said here today that he will negotiate only with a representative of Prime Minister Singh, Rahul Gandhi or Prithviraj Chauhan, chief minister of his native state Maharashtra.
Doctors looking after him said Hazare has lost five kilogrammes of weight since August 16, when he began fasting in support of his campaign for a stringent law to curb corruption. They expressed concern about the state of his health.
And, responding to Hazare’s call, dozens of his supporters demonstrated in front of the homes of several ministers, demanding prompt action to pass the Lok Pal bill. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit were among those whose homes were targeted by the protesters today.
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