Corruption must be rooted out

The corruption is rampant at all levels of the government departments and in society. It is no secret that now the money is charged openly for executing the work of the public in government offices is called speed money. And without the payment of speed money, no files can be pushed forward before higher officials for disposal of files. More than 24 years ago, the former prime minister late Rajeev Gandhi had said that only 13 paise of a rupee meant for the development reaches the public and the rest is consumed in its clearance. The PM has also chosen the right the occasion of the conference of CBI and anti-corruption agencies of the states to highlight perceived irregularities in NREGS, the government’s much publicised rural job scheme. There is a constant refrain in public that much of what the government provides never reaches the intended beneficiaries, whether it is subsidised foodgrain or the benefit of employment programmes.Corruption is like cancer which spreads fast and eats into the vitality of the country and would make it hollow if it was not checked immediately. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has rightly asked the top investigating agency the CBI to catch the big fish involved in corrution. He also rightly said that there is pervasive impression among the public that only the small and petty corrupt officials got caught by the investigating agency and big fish are left to go scot free. Prime Minister has rightly suggested that the hunt for the corrupt had so far bypassed the top and urged the CBI to “net the big fish”.This must not happen.The message of PM would have gone across to CBI chief Ashwini Kumar and his team, who are seen as having made a string of forgery and petty crime arrests over the past few months even as big cases are relegated to the background. PM has also rightly said while addressing the conference of CBI and state anti-corruption agencies that they must ensure that the big fish involved in corruption are caught. Corruption is the bane of society and it is making the country weak and hollow. The judiciary must also come forward in dealing the with the corruption cases fast. There must be time frame within which corruption cases should be disposed off. There also must not be political interefence to influence the investigating officials to finalise the cases in favour of the guilty. Investigating agencies must be empowewred enough to withstand the pressure of political persons ,howsoever big, could exert pressure on them. As corruption is spreading its tentacles in every sphere of life, it must be rooted out without any loss of time. Otherwise its demon will devour the nation. It has been seen at several occasions in the recent past when the conduct of the bureau has come in for public criticism. The nation like the CBI to have a critical look at itself and introspect deeply to further improve its functioning.There must be rapid, fair and accurate investigation of allegations of corruption in high places should remain the utmost priority of the investigating agency.Anti-corruption agencies have to develop a system of investigation that factors this element into their thinking processes. It is as much the duty of investigating agency to protect the honest and the efficient as it is to prosecute and penalise the corrupt. The war on corruption declared by the PM must be taken seriously and there must not be any compromise on the issue of corruption.