Anti-corruption body plans multi-pronged attack
Lucknow, Nov 28 (IANS) The India Regeneration Initiatives (IRI) – a newly formed anti-corruption forum – will meet in Delhi Wednesday to chalk out its strategy for a multi-pronged attack on corruption in high places.
“At the national level, we propose to go for asset verification of all who have held or are holding high offices,” Vijay Shankar Pandey, IRI convener, told IANS Tuesday.
“Similarly, at the state level, we have identified issues like bungling in police recruitments and state power corporations. District-level issues would also be taken up for redress,” he added.
The IRI will first approach the official machinery to look into corruption complaints, failing which other courses, including legal remedies, would be taken, he said.
The IRI – under the leadership of former chief justice of India R.C. Lahoti – has hailed President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for initiating the need to set up a new machinery to check corruption in Indian public life.
“The IRI had expressed the need for setting up an integrity commission with special powers to investigate and prosecute corrupt public servants. Letters have been sent by Justice Lahoti to the prime minister in this regard,” Pandey said.
To bring greater transparency in the use of public funds, the forum would also undertake a campaign to trace money spent by the state exchequer.
“Once the IRI’s state and district level units are in place, complaints would be invited from citizens regarding corruption and bribe demands by public servants.”
The IRI core group includes former chief election commissioner J.M. Lygndoh, former Comptroller and Auditor General of India V.K. Shunglu, former police chief of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Mumbai J. Ribeiro, retired Indian Air Force chief S. Krishnaswamy and former Border Security Force chief Prakash Singh.
Former secretaries to the union government S.A.T. Rizvi and N.C. Saxena, former JNU professor H.C. Pandey, IIT Kharagpur director S.K. Dube and six serving IAS officers are also members of the core group.
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