PM, Sonia vow to tackle corruption, show through actions

New Delhi, May 22 (PTI) With its image dented by
scams, the Indian National Congress-led United Progressive
Alliance (UPA) government tonight pledged to take corruption
head on and promised to punish the guilty, demonstrating
through actions and not words what it meant.
Presenting the UPA's report card on completion of two
years in the second term, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi gave an assurance that the
government would prevent scams in future and reduce
discretionary and arbitrary use of powers by public officials.
In her brief remarks in "Government of the UPA: Report
to the People 2010-11", Gandhi said, "We will take the issue
of corruption head on and demonstrate, through actions, and
not words, that we mean what we say."
Singh and Gandhi presented the report at a function at
the Prime Minister's residence and attended by leaders of
coalition partners and outside supporters like Samajwadi Party
and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which is having a running
battle with the Congress in north Indian state Uttar Pradesh,
chose to skip.
Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), sulking in the wake
of poll debacle and the arrest of its MP Kanimozhi, made a
token presence with the attendance of its Parliamentary Party
chief T R Baalu. None of its six ministers was present.
With his government reeling under attack over several
scams in the last many months, Singh said, "there is the
challenge of good governance and the need for political
stability."
"In the past several months, a conjunction of several
developments relating to 2G spectrum allocation, procurement
and contracting issues related to the Commonwealth Games, and
similar issues in state governments have brought public focus
on the issue of corruption in public life."
The Prime Minister said these developments have caused
many concerned citizens to worry about the state of governance
and the "pervasiveness of corruption".
"These are legitimate concerns and the UPA government
is determined to take corrective action. The due processes of
law are already in motion. We are taking steps to prevent such
developments in future and reduce discretionary and arbitrary
use of power by public officials," Singh said.
Speaking on the occasion, Gandhi said much has been
said about corruption.
"Transparency, accountability and probity are at the
very heart of our governance, our actions and we demonstrate
this," the UPA Chairperson said.
At the same time, she took a veiled dig at BJP for not
removing Karnataka Chief Minister over corruption charges,
she said, "It is unfortunate that some Opposition parties do
not share the same high standards of probity when it comes to
their own."
The 74-page report presented the achievements in
various fields like economy, agriculture, rural development,
education and healthcare.
Both Singh and Gandhi said the UPA government was
committed to high economic growth that will be inclusive and
containing inflation.
Significantly, the Prime Minister touched upon the
issue of governance and corruption which, he said, has been
the focus of a great deal of attention in 2010-11.
In the foreword to the report, he said many of these
issues have surfaced because of "our system of institutional
oversight and a free press" and to that extend reflect the
strength of the system.
"We have initiated a number of measures to bring about
systemic changes that would help in improving governance and
curbing corruption and we hope to see quick results of these
efforts," he said.
The report card talks at length about the constitution
of GoM on corruption in January this year and the introduction
of the whistleblower bill among the measures initiated by the
government to "tackle corruption".
It said that the terms of reference of the GoM include
considering all legislative and administrative measures
necessary to tackle corruption and improve transparency
including relinquishing discretionary powers enjoyed by
ministers at the Centre.
The Prime Minister said the government would leave no
stone unturned in providing a clean and effective governance.
In their speeches, both Singh and Gandhi referred to
the results of the recent Assembly elections in five states.
"The messages of the results, of course, are specific
to each state. But there is a common thread. People want and
reward good, effective and accountable governance. This will
continue to be our focus," she said.
Singh said in a democracy, every political party has
the responsibility to ensure political stability.
"Predictable change is a part of democratic politics.
In the past few weeks our country was proud to witness
peaceful elections to five State assemblies.
"Apart from the historic verdict in West Bengal, in
other states too participation in elections was very high.
This reaffirms our people's faith in the institutions of
democracy," he said.
Referring to the annual affair of presenting reports
of UPA government, the Prime Minister said he viewed this
initiative "as a symbol of our commitment to transparency and
accountability in governance."
He said UPA has offered seven years of political
stability, social progress, communal harmony, economic growth
and increased engagement with nations around the world.
"Our record is an open book. I invite every citizen,
every political activist and every member of the media to read
this report and judge us by our performance," Singh said.
Delving on economic situation of the country in the
past seven years, he said it has grown at an "unprecedented
rate" of 8.5 per cent.
"This historic performance has been in the face of a
grave financial crisis and slowdown in the world economy. It
has been achieved overcoming the problem of high energy prices
and rising food prices," he said.
"If each one of us continues to work hard with
dedication, commitment and honesty, I am sure India will soon
emerge as the fastest growing economy in the world," he said,
while noting that India already is the world's fastest growing
democracy.
Singh said his government had pursued a strategy of
seeking "inclusive growth" at home and "inclusive
globalization" internationally that benefits the have-nots and
reduces disparities.
He also referred to some major legislations like the
Right to Employment, Right to Education and the Right to
Information. The government now proposes to introduce a
legislation giving our citizens the Right to Food.
"Our policies have aimed to empower, socially,
educationally and economically, the weaker sections of our
society – Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, other
backward classes, minorities and women," Singh said.
"We have a long way to go in banishing poverty and in
providing gainful employment to all. But I would urge you to
look at the impressive distance we have walked in these past
seven years," he said.
Observing that India was standing at the "cusp of new
opportunities, and new challenges", Singh said, "These are
difficult times, with rising energy prices, with increasing
demand for food, with new challenges to human security.
"But these are also times of change, with the engine
of global growth shifting eastwards to Asia. Asia is on the
march, and so is India."
He added, "Our people look to the future with hope and
the world looks at us with hope."
Noting that with "new opportunities, come new
responsibilities", Singh said "there is much we must do at
home to be able to realize our hopes, our aspirations, and our
dreams."
The Prime Minister said his government's most
immediate challenge was to sustain the growth process, while
keeping inflation under check.
There are four dimensions to sustainable economic
growth: fiscal, social, ecological and political, he said.
Listing the fiscal challenge as immediate, Singh said,
"In response to the global economic slowdown we undertook a
massive fiscal stimulus programme that helped maintain
reasonable growth.
"Today, however, we must reduce the fiscal and revenue
deficits, increase public investment, and cut down on wasteful
subsidies."
This challenge, Singh said, has been made all the more
daunting by the rise in world fuel prices.
"As an importer of oil, we have to adopt rational
pricing policies. This is not just prudent fiscal management.
This is a national security imperative. India cannot become
too dependent on external sources of energy," he said.
"Equally, we cannot become too dependent on world
markets for food. The imperatives of food security impose
certain policy options. The Indian farmer has to be empowered
with better prices, better policies, better access to finance,
to technology, to infrastructure and to markets," he said.
Singh said the challenge of social sustainability of
growth is a universal challenge today and rapid growth and
urbanization have contributed to increased inequalities and
inequities.
"Improving public services delivery particularly
education and health, better targeting of subsidies, ensuring
employment opportunities and economic support for women, for
scheduled caste and scheduled tribes, and minorities are all
needed to ensure social sustainability of growth," he said.
Singh also talked about terrorism, saying its threat
looms large and "we must all stand united" in combined fight
against the forces of terrorism, extremism and instability.
"Our government will remain ever vigilant in the fight
against terrorism and extremism... We must not minimize the
challenges we face. At the same time, we must not be
overwhelmed by them.
"I am confident that the people of India will stand
together as one in fighting the divisive forces of
destabilization," he said.
"Today, as we present our Report to The People, we in
government feel humbled by the faith reposed in us. The
challenge before us is to repay the people of India in kind –
with policies and programmes that offer them better lives, a
better future, a secure neighbourhood, a peaceful world," he
observed.
"For me this has been a daunting journey. The love,
affection and support of the people of India have given us the
strength, the energy and the determination to take our country
forward," Singh said and thanked, on behalf of the UPA
government, people of India for the confidence they have
reposed.
Gandhi said as the UPA-II cross yet another milestone, it
was conscious of the people's expectations and was determined
to fulfill these aspirations.
Referring to the recent assembly elections where UPA-II
has been successful in three out of five States, she said,
"The messages from the results, of course, are specific to
each state, but there is a common thread: people want and
reward good, effective, accountable governance. This will
continue to be our focus."
She said the endeavour of the UPA-II has been to build
upon the programmes introduced in UPA-I and "make our policies
and programmes more effective, reaching more and more people."
Many new initiatives have also been launched over the
past two years, she said, adding that the UPA's core
principles – inclusive growth, empowerment of weaker sections
of society and women, cooperative federalism, accountable
governance – continue to underlie its work in the second term.
"Our priorities have always been clear. They are: First,
to maintain the momentum of high economic growth, while
keeping the prices of essential commodities at affordable
levels. Second, to ensure that the proceeds of the growth
process benefit all, but in particular, the weaker sections of
society and backward regions of the country.
Third, to balance the twin imperatives of sustainable
high growth and rising livelihood aspirations; and fourth, to
ensure transparency, accountability and probity in
governance," the Congress chief said.
Gandhi insisted that UPA-I transformed the very nature of
administration and governance by its "rights-based" approach
for empowering citizens through the Right to Information Act,
the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act,
the Forest Rights Act.
"The Forest Rights Act is not only empowering our tribals
and other communities, but it is also a means to meet the
challenge of left wing extremism," she said, adding the
government is consciously building upon this approach of
providing legal entitlements to the people.
She also referred to the National Food Security Act,
which is being finalised, saying it will be "a great step
forward in fulfilling our pledge to end hunger and
malnutrition once-and-for all."
The National Livelihoods Mission is being launched which
aims at ensuring that half of the country’s rural women
population become members of self-help groups linked with
banks that provide loans at low interest rates, she said.
The much-needed amendments to the Land Acquisition Act,
and the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, still remain to
be introduced in Parliament because of the disruptions to its
the functioning by the BJP, Gandhi said, adding "We are
determined to introduce and pass these Bills in the Monsoon
Session."
Pointing out that the UPA-II was approaching the mid-way
mark with Singh completing seven years as Prime Minister,
Gandhi congratulated him for "the many enduring
accomplishments achieved during his tenure."
She also extended congratulations to his Cabinet, to
coalition partners and to all colleagues.
"As we look ahead to the next three years of UPA-II, let
us reaffirm our resolve to press ahead steadfastly with our
distinctive policies and programmes, to live up to the trust
and confidence reposed in us by the people of our country,"
she said.