Mindless atmosphere of negativity can damage India’s image: PM

New Delhi, Oct 10:  

 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today decried creation of “mindless atmosphere of negativity and pessimism” on the corruption issue and promised to strengthen the anti-graft law by including corporate failure to prevent bribery as a new offence besides other steps. 

“The mindless atmosphere of negativity and pessimism that is sought to be created over the issue of corruption can do us no good. It can only damage the nation’s image and hit the morale of the executive,” he said. 

With his government facing increasing attacks on the corruption issue from the opposition and activists, Singh said a clear and unambiguous definition of corruption is being sought to be provided through amendments to plug gaps in the Prevention of Corruption Act and bringing it in line with international practices. 

Addressing the annual conference of CBI and State Anti-Corruption Bureaux, Singh said experience has shown that “big ticket corruption” was mostly related to operations by large commercial entities. 

“A clear and unambiguous definition for the term ’corruption’, covering both the supply and demand sides, is being sought to be provided,” he said. 

Singh said a proposal is also being mooted to include corporate failure to prevent bribery as a new offence on the supply side. 

“I would like to stress upon the need to protect honest public servants and keep the morale of the executive intact with our commitment,” he said

-The Hindu 

PM Manmohan Singh responsible for negativism: Arun Jaitley

 

NEW DELHI: A day after PM Manmohan Singh spoke of "mindless atmosphere of negativity and pessimism", BJP asked him to 'walk the talk' on graft. BJP held the UPA responsible for creating such an atmosphere and alleged the 'most shameful instances of corruption' have happened during its tenure. It alleged the prime minister was trying to mislead the country by stating that the 'infirmity of law' was preventing the government from taking action in corruption cases.

Leader of Opposition in RS, Arun Jaitley, wrote an article, 'Why is there Negativism,' citing instances of "unfair and unacceptable transactions" under Congress regime while BJP's chief spokesperson, Ravi Shankar Prasad, raised a series of questions for the prime minister. According to Jaitley, the prime minister should have introspected why such an environment was created.

"Yes, the prime minister is right when he says that there is an environment of cynicism and negativism. The poison which perpetuates this negativism therefore must be expunged from the system. Banish corruption, investigate corruption cases honestly and punish the corrupt - that will create a more positive environment."

Jaitley referred to Arvind Kejriwal's allegations of Robert Vadra's DLFdeals and said the way senior ministers came to his defence showed the controversy was being used to "display loyalty rather than enforce probity." 

 

-ET