Indian PM vows to root-out corruption

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12477450

Indian PM Manmohan Singh vows to fight corruption

2011/02/16 03:15 ET

Manmohan Singh said wrongdoers would not be spared

ndia's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has vowed to crack down on corruption after a series of damaging scandals.

In a rare news conference Mr Singh said the impression that India was "scam-driven" was in no one's interest.

He acknowledged the standing of his Congress-led government had suffered.

The government is accused of losing billions of dollars by underselling telephone licences. Preparations for last year's Commonwealth Games were also dogged by corruption claims.

"An impression has gone round that we are a scam-driven country and nothing good is happening in our country, that we are weakening the self-confidence of the people of India," Mr Singh told a press conference shown live on news channels across India.

"I do not think that it is in the interest of anyone in our country," he said.

"I wish to assure the country as a whole that our government is dead serious in bringing to book all the wrongdoers, regardless of the positions they may occupy."

'No role'

Mr Singh denied he had any direct role in the sale of the so-called 2G telecoms licences.

"As far as who gets licences, the first-come-first-served policy, how it is implemented, that was never discussed with me.

"Licences were not a matter which ever got referred to me or the cabinet. That was a decision exclusively of the telecoms ministry."

Federal auditors estimate the way the licences were awarded cost the country nearly $40bn in lost revenue, perhaps more.

Mr Singh said he had had no role in the appointment of the now disgraced former telecoms minister, Andimuthu Raja, who was a choice of the alliance partner DMK party.

"In a coalition government, you can suggest preferences for ministers but you have to go by what the leader of that coalition partner ultimately insists."

The prime minister also touched on other matters. He said high food inflation was a cause for concern and that the government was trying to bring it down.

"You have my assurance that at the end of this fiscal year, the inflation rate should come down to no more than 7%."

In recent months, the opposition has described Mr Singh's administration as "a lame duck government".

Correspondents say the press conference was an attempt by the prime minister to improve the image of his party and the government.

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Prime Ministers (and other leadership) in India have been saying this for decades. Bakshish and rishwat aren't going anywhere. Embrace it, don't fight it.

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Prime Ministers (and other leadership) in India have been saying this for decades. Bakshish and rishwat aren't going anywhere. Embrace it, don't fight it.

Minor difference here--in cases prior, there was SOME possibility (if the PM were honest and actually had the "stones" for it--a combination never actually in place) due to the PM being the boss (albeit some ineffective such as Nehru and Desai); here, the PM is clearly not the boss, so the pretence looks lots sillier.

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Oops, a correction. India's second (some would say third, due to GL Nanda being interim) PM was honest and did possess the "stones", but he didn't last long enough in office (died in Tashkent after less than 2 years in office) to make impact.