New Delhi:
Against the backdrop of an unrelenting Opposition targeting the government over the issue of various scams, the government seems to have decided to set up an anti-corruption mechanism.
This is in line with what Congress president Sonia Gandhi had said at the recent Congress plenary. She had talked about a five-point action plan to deal with corruption:
This is seen in response to an NDA meeting on Saturday evening where the Opposition reportedly decided that they will keep pressing for the JPC in the next Parliament session as well. The government move is an attempt to blunt the Opposition's move.
It is seen as an answer to the Opposition's move to checkmate the government by stepping up its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe.
Sources said the issue was discussed at a meeting of the Congress Core Group in New Delhi in which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were present.
There was no official word on whether the ordinance could be the precursor to the long-pending Lok Pal Bill and whether the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) would be covered by it.
In his address, the Prime Minister referred to Gandhi's five-point action plan and said the government would pay careful attention to the agenda set out by Gandhi.
Gandhi, in her valedictory address, had said they would take the issue of corruption head on and demonstrate through actions and not words that they meant what they say. "I had made specific suggestions and the Prime Minister has assured us that they will be taken forward," she had said.
At the plenary, Rahul Gandhi had also demanded severe punishment for those guilty of corruption.
In his New Year message on Friday, the Prime Minister has already made a pitch for making a "new beginning" in the year ahead.
"We will redouble our efforts to deal effectively and credibly with the challenges of inflation, cleansing our governing processes, national security and making our delivery system work for the aam aadmi", he had said.
(With PTI inputs)
This is in line with what Congress president Sonia Gandhi had said at the recent Congress plenary. She had talked about a five-point action plan to deal with corruption:
- Fast-tracking corruption cases against public servants, including politicians
- Legal steps to ensure transparency in procurement and contracts
- Suspension of discretionary powers of CMs and ministers
- Open and competitive system for exploiting natural resources
- Protection of whistle blowers
This is seen in response to an NDA meeting on Saturday evening where the Opposition reportedly decided that they will keep pressing for the JPC in the next Parliament session as well. The government move is an attempt to blunt the Opposition's move.
It is seen as an answer to the Opposition's move to checkmate the government by stepping up its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe.
Sources said the issue was discussed at a meeting of the Congress Core Group in New Delhi in which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were present.
There was no official word on whether the ordinance could be the precursor to the long-pending Lok Pal Bill and whether the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) would be covered by it.
In his address, the Prime Minister referred to Gandhi's five-point action plan and said the government would pay careful attention to the agenda set out by Gandhi.
Gandhi, in her valedictory address, had said they would take the issue of corruption head on and demonstrate through actions and not words that they meant what they say. "I had made specific suggestions and the Prime Minister has assured us that they will be taken forward," she had said.
At the plenary, Rahul Gandhi had also demanded severe punishment for those guilty of corruption.
In his New Year message on Friday, the Prime Minister has already made a pitch for making a "new beginning" in the year ahead.
"We will redouble our efforts to deal effectively and credibly with the challenges of inflation, cleansing our governing processes, national security and making our delivery system work for the aam aadmi", he had said.
(With PTI inputs)
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