New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday admitted that “today corruption is the biggest issue” and advocated mo-ving from a system wh-ere those in government have “arbitrary powers” to a rule-based structure.
Speaking at apex industry chamber Ficci’s annual general meeting (AGM), Mr Gandhi said that corruption is an unacceptable burden and is “bleeding our people dry.” He said that “we must fight corruption with all our strength and determination.”
Talking about his strong denunciation of the ordinance on convicted lawmakers which saw it being junked at the last moment, Mr Gandhi said that Congress was able to ensure that convicted criminals are kept out of Parliament. He also added that in the process “I got to learn that it is not polite to ask that ordinances be torn and thrown into the dustbin."
Calling passage of Lokpal bill as a huge step, Mr Gandhi said there is a need to go further. “I have appealed for the passage of six critical anti-corruption bill through Parliament.”
He said that UPA government has done more than any government to combat corruption. “The Right to Information Act has been our most powerful weapon in the fight against corruption. Few governments have had the courage to enact legislation that rendered their processes more transparent and open to scrutiny. RTI has shown all concerned the writing on the wall and, in some cases, it has shown them the wall of Tihar jail,” Mr Gandhi said .
He advocated the need for eliminating the system of arbitrary powers to curb corruption. “The biggest problem is absolute arbitrary powers at all levels of the system. This is what we face.. In India, there are lot of arbitrary powers. The environment minister or the CM can take any decision he wants," said Mr Gandhi.
