Apathy lets corruption thrive: Siby Mathews

Thiruvananthapuram: The government came under fire at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau with Chief Information Commissioner and former Vigilance Director Siby Mathews maintaining that the political leadership lacked interest in acting tough against corrupt officials.

Mathews even said that the law should be made so stringent that the corrupt are  shot like in some foreign countries. “Vigilance actions are dragging indefinitely due to lack of proper legal framework. Hundreds of cases are piled up at various courts and the politicians are least interested in ensuring punishment to the corrupt,” Mr. Mathews said.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who inaugurated the celebrations  on Monday,  said that corruption could be wiped out only with the help of people. In a democracy,  the  fight against corruption was a key factor in having the  people's trust in the government, he said.

Home Minister  Thiruvanchoor Radhakirshnan, who presided,  said that steps to  avoid  the pendency of cases will be initiated.