Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, left and Congress party President Sonia Gandhi, center, release a report to mark the government’s second anniversary as DMK party lawmaker T.R Baalu, right, applauds in New Delhi on May 22. (AP Photo)
New Delhi, May 22 (CNN/IBN): With its image dented by scams, the Congress-led UPA government on Sunday night pledged to take corruption head on and promised to punish the guilty, demonstrating through actions and not words what it meant.
Presenting the UPA’s report card on completion of two years in the second term, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi gave an assurance that the government would prevent scams in future and reduce discretionary and arbitrary use of powers by public officials.
In her brief remarks in “Government of the UPA: Report to the People 2010-11”, Sonia said, “We will take the issue of corruption head on and demonstrate, through actions, and not words, that we mean what we say.” Singh and Sonia presented the report at a function at the Prime Minister’s residence and attended by leaders of coalition partners and outside supporters like Samajwadi Party and RJD.
DMK, sulking in the wake of poll debacle and the arrest of its MP Kanimozhi, made a token presence with the attendance of its Parliamentary Party chief T R Baalu. None of its six ministers was present.
With his government reeling under attack over several scams in the last many months, Singh said, “there is the challenge of good governance and the need for political stability. Singh said, “People of India have to work together to fight against divided forces of terror.”
Admitting there is a development deficit in areas affected by Left-wing extremism, Manmohan Singh said his government is determined to address the deficit, while maintaining that the menace remains a “major problem.”
“We will deal firmly with extremism but we also recognize that there is a development deficit in the areas affected by left-wing extremism and we are determined to address this deficit,” Singh said.
Singh said, “We have undoubtedly a long way to remove poverty & unemployment. India stands today at the threshold of new opportunities, these are difficult times of rising energy prices and changing global economy.” “Immediate challenge is to keep under control inflation along with growth,” he said.
The Prime Minister said India can’t depend on external sources for energy needs. Imperative of food security, Indian farmers have to be empowered with better prices, modern technology and markets to ensure food security.
“In the past several months, a conjunction of several developments relating to 2G spectrum allocation, procurement and contracting issues related to the Commonwealth Games, and similar issues in state governments have brought public focus on the issue of corruption in public life.”
The Prime Minister said these developments have caused many concerned citizens to worry about the state of governance and the “pervasiveness of corruption”.
“These are legitimate concerns and the UPA government is determined to take corrective action. The due processes of law are already in motion. We are taking steps to prevent such developments in future and reduce discretionary and arbitrary use of power by public officials,” Singh said.
Speaking on the occasion, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said, “UPA-II is consciously building towards legal entitlement of our people. Right to education has become a reality and National food security act is being finalized which will be a great step forward to end hunger and malnutrition.”
Sonia on the occasion of UPA-II’s second anniversary congratulated Mamata Banerjee, Oomen Chandy and Tarun Gogoi for their success in the resent state Assembly elections.
Sonia said much has been said about corruption.
“Transparency, accountability and probity are at the very heart of our governance, our actions and we demonstrate this,” the UPA Chairperson said.
At the same time, she took a veiled dig at BJP for not removing Karnataka Chief Minister over corruption charges, she said, “It is unfortunate that some Opposition parties do not share the same high standards of probity when it comes to their own.”
The 74-page report presented the achievements in various fields like economy, agriculture, rural development, education and healthcare.
Both Singh and Sonia said the UPA government was committed to high economic growth that will be inclusive and containing inflation.
With additional inputs from PTI
Presenting the UPA’s report card on completion of two years in the second term, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi gave an assurance that the government would prevent scams in future and reduce discretionary and arbitrary use of powers by public officials.
In her brief remarks in “Government of the UPA: Report to the People 2010-11”, Sonia said, “We will take the issue of corruption head on and demonstrate, through actions, and not words, that we mean what we say.” Singh and Sonia presented the report at a function at the Prime Minister’s residence and attended by leaders of coalition partners and outside supporters like Samajwadi Party and RJD.
DMK, sulking in the wake of poll debacle and the arrest of its MP Kanimozhi, made a token presence with the attendance of its Parliamentary Party chief T R Baalu. None of its six ministers was present.
With his government reeling under attack over several scams in the last many months, Singh said, “there is the challenge of good governance and the need for political stability. Singh said, “People of India have to work together to fight against divided forces of terror.”
Admitting there is a development deficit in areas affected by Left-wing extremism, Manmohan Singh said his government is determined to address the deficit, while maintaining that the menace remains a “major problem.”
“We will deal firmly with extremism but we also recognize that there is a development deficit in the areas affected by left-wing extremism and we are determined to address this deficit,” Singh said.
Singh said, “We have undoubtedly a long way to remove poverty & unemployment. India stands today at the threshold of new opportunities, these are difficult times of rising energy prices and changing global economy.” “Immediate challenge is to keep under control inflation along with growth,” he said.
The Prime Minister said India can’t depend on external sources for energy needs. Imperative of food security, Indian farmers have to be empowered with better prices, modern technology and markets to ensure food security.
“In the past several months, a conjunction of several developments relating to 2G spectrum allocation, procurement and contracting issues related to the Commonwealth Games, and similar issues in state governments have brought public focus on the issue of corruption in public life.”
The Prime Minister said these developments have caused many concerned citizens to worry about the state of governance and the “pervasiveness of corruption”.
“These are legitimate concerns and the UPA government is determined to take corrective action. The due processes of law are already in motion. We are taking steps to prevent such developments in future and reduce discretionary and arbitrary use of power by public officials,” Singh said.
Speaking on the occasion, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said, “UPA-II is consciously building towards legal entitlement of our people. Right to education has become a reality and National food security act is being finalized which will be a great step forward to end hunger and malnutrition.”
Sonia on the occasion of UPA-II’s second anniversary congratulated Mamata Banerjee, Oomen Chandy and Tarun Gogoi for their success in the resent state Assembly elections.
Sonia said much has been said about corruption.
“Transparency, accountability and probity are at the very heart of our governance, our actions and we demonstrate this,” the UPA Chairperson said.
At the same time, she took a veiled dig at BJP for not removing Karnataka Chief Minister over corruption charges, she said, “It is unfortunate that some Opposition parties do not share the same high standards of probity when it comes to their own.”
The 74-page report presented the achievements in various fields like economy, agriculture, rural development, education and healthcare.
Both Singh and Sonia said the UPA government was committed to high economic growth that will be inclusive and containing inflation.
With additional inputs from PTI
