PM failed to rein in graft, country's image dented: Babu

Holding the United Progressive Alliance Government responsible for rampant corruption in the country, Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday charged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of having failed ‘totally’ to regulate administrative bodies to prevent graft.

Talking to media persons at his residence, Mr Naidu said the country’s image has taken a severe beating on the international front due to rampant corruption and black money.

“If the Prime Minister had acted tough and punished the guilty by strengthening the laws and more teeth to investigation agencies, the country’s image would not have been so severely damaged. Besides, prevention would have meant that civil rights activists Anna Hazare and Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev would not have had to come on the streets to observe hunger fasts and fight for Lok Pal Bill,” the former chief minister stated.

Reiterating that the TDP would continues its fight against corruption and black money, Mr Naidu asked the Prime Minister to break his silence and act efficiently against culprits and take steps for bringing black money.

He urged the Prime Minister to identify the lapses in the existing system and take effective steps to prevent corruption.

“Though the country has achieved political freedom, it had not achieved economic freedom,” Mr Naidu said and added a second freedom movement was necessary to prevent massive corruption which prevailed in the country.

He added that the government should introduce political and economic reforms to prevent corruption.

“The development of the country will not be possible without reining in corruption and getting back the black money stashed away in Swiss Banks,” the former chief minister said.

“It is the responsibility of each and every one to fight against corruption and free the country from clutches of corruption,” the TDP chief added. He said the image of the country would be improved with a corruption free environment.