Amid a war of words between government and Opposition,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said it was "unfortunate" that the
Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill could not be passed by the Rajya Sabha and
asserted that the government was committed to an effective
anti-corruption law.
Wishing to put behind a "very difficult" year, Singh acknowledged that the concern about corruption has moved to the centre stage and vowed to personally work to provide an "honest and more efficient government".
In his New Year message to the nation, he noted that corruption was a serious problem that needs multi-dimensional response of which Lokpal and Lokayuktas are an important part but it will take time to have full effect of the initiatives.
"The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha. It is unfortunate that the Bill could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha. However, our government is committed to the enactment of an effective Lokpal Act," he said.
In the nine-page message which gave an overview of a host of subjects like economic situation, food security, national security, ecological security and social issues, Singh said, "I believe we have made more progress than is commonly realised."
The government has taken several "transformational" initiatives to tackle corruption which will be "recognised as such down the line", he said.
In this context, he listed introduction of Bills on Citizen's Charter and Judicial Accountability in Parliament.
"These initiatives will take time to have full effect and we must, therefore, be patient," he counselled.
He termed corruption as a "serious problem" which calls for a multi-dimensional response.
"New institutions such as Lokpal and Lokayuktas are an important part of the solution and we have initiated the process for establishing them."
Underlining that Lokpal and Lokayuktas were "only one part of the solution", the Prime Minister said, "we also need reforms in systems of governance which would increase transparency and minimise discretion so that the scope of misgovernance is reduced."
Singh said, "The year that has just ended was a very difficult year for the world" and in this regard cited the economic crisis, socio economic tensions, "political upheavals in many developing countries" and "a revolution of rising expectations fostered by the extraordinary reach of the electronic media and the connectivity provided by new social networking platforms."
These issues kept governments around the world "on their toes", he said, adding that "we in India have had our share of problems."
Talking in the context of India specifically, Singh said the economy slowed down, inflation edged up and "concern about corruption moved to the centre stage".
Wishing to put behind a "very difficult" year, Singh acknowledged that the concern about corruption has moved to the centre stage and vowed to personally work to provide an "honest and more efficient government".
In his New Year message to the nation, he noted that corruption was a serious problem that needs multi-dimensional response of which Lokpal and Lokayuktas are an important part but it will take time to have full effect of the initiatives.
"The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha. It is unfortunate that the Bill could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha. However, our government is committed to the enactment of an effective Lokpal Act," he said.
In the nine-page message which gave an overview of a host of subjects like economic situation, food security, national security, ecological security and social issues, Singh said, "I believe we have made more progress than is commonly realised."
The government has taken several "transformational" initiatives to tackle corruption which will be "recognised as such down the line", he said.
In this context, he listed introduction of Bills on Citizen's Charter and Judicial Accountability in Parliament.
"These initiatives will take time to have full effect and we must, therefore, be patient," he counselled.
He termed corruption as a "serious problem" which calls for a multi-dimensional response.
"New institutions such as Lokpal and Lokayuktas are an important part of the solution and we have initiated the process for establishing them."
Underlining that Lokpal and Lokayuktas were "only one part of the solution", the Prime Minister said, "we also need reforms in systems of governance which would increase transparency and minimise discretion so that the scope of misgovernance is reduced."
Singh said, "The year that has just ended was a very difficult year for the world" and in this regard cited the economic crisis, socio economic tensions, "political upheavals in many developing countries" and "a revolution of rising expectations fostered by the extraordinary reach of the electronic media and the connectivity provided by new social networking platforms."
These issues kept governments around the world "on their toes", he said, adding that "we in India have had our share of problems."
Talking in the context of India specifically, Singh said the economy slowed down, inflation edged up and "concern about corruption moved to the centre stage".
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