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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
arrives at the XVII Biennial Conference of CBI and State
Anti-Corruption Bureaux in New Delhi today.
(PIB Photo) |
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New Delhi:
Asking Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and state
Anti-Corruption Bureau officials to aggressively pursue "high
level corruption", Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said the
perception that "big fish" escape punishment must change and they
should act swiftly and without fear.
Opening the biennial conference of the CBI and State Anti Corruption
Bureau officials here today, Singh said officials should try to wipe
out the general psyche in the mind of the public that the big fish
escape from the net of the law.
Singh said there was no single remedy for fighting corruption, and
added that it has to be combated at many levels.
He
suggested making the existing systems less discretionary so that the
fight against corruption will be stimulated.
"High-level corruption should be pursued aggressively. There is a
pervasive feeling that while petty cases get tackled quickly, the
big fish escape punishment. This has to change," Singh said.
Singh said though the quick investigation was important and
necessary, it was not sufficient to bring the guilty to book.
"Trials should be conducted expeditiously and judgments delivered
quickly. To begin with the aim should be to conclude the trial in
two years so that punishment could be given to the offenders within
a period of three years or so," Singh said.
Singh informed the conference that the government has decided to set
up new 71 CBI courts and urged these new courts to function as model
courts by avoiding unnecessary adjournments.
He
said though the world respects Indian democracy, its plural and
secular values, independent judiciary, free press, and its pursuit
of equitable and inclusive growth, but corruption tarnishing all
these images.
"But
pervasive corruption in our country tarnishes our image. It also
discourages investors, who expect fair treatment and transparent
dealings. As the country grows and integrates with the world
economy, corruption continues to be an impediment to harnessing the
best technology and resources," he said.
He
expressed concern over delay in implementing pro people projects due
to corruption and said that corruption distorts the rule of law and
weakens institutions of governance.
"Important projects,
which have huge externalities for growth, do not get implemented in
time, and when they do get finished, they are often of a poor
quality. Inflated project costs consume scarce national resources,
which could have been better used in other important areas in the
service of our people. The poor are disproportionately hurt because
of corruption, Singh said.
Calling the officials to fight effectively and decisively in the war
against corruption, Singh asked the officials to have a clear focus
on the corruption prone areas.
"Pervasive corruption in our country
tarnishes our image. It also discourages investors, who expect fair
treatment and transparent dealings. As the country grows and
integrates with the world economy, corruption continues to be an
impediment to harnessing the best technology and resources," he
said.
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