Priya Dutt for strong punishment measures against corruption

Jammu, Dec 8 (UNI) Social activist and Lok Sabha member Priya Dutt today demanded ''strong measures'' to fight corruption, saying it has become a widespread social evil in the country.

Talking to UNI here, Ms Dutt said, ''I have a very strong opinion against corruption and there should be strong punishment measures to tackle this evil.'' The young politician, who was on her maiden visit here after her elections to the Lok Sabha, advocated for equally strong punishment for both -- ''who gives and who accepts (illegal gratification)''.

''Corruption is a two-way process, so both the parties indulging in it should be held responsible equally,'' she added.

Ms Dutt, however, called for the young generation to come forward to weed out corruption from the society.

Citing the verses from an old Hindi film song 'Chhoro kal ki baatain, kal ki baat purani...'' she in her message to youths said, ''We should look forward to better future.'' Recalling her earlier visits to Jammu and Kashmir, daughter of yesteryear's bollywood star and former union minister late Sunil Dutt, Ms Dutt was all praises for the state.

''I remember my visits to Kashmir with my father... Jammu and kashmir is heaven... people are very good here,'' she said.

Ms Dutt avoided questions related to her actor brother Sanjay Dutt.

Immediately, after arriving here she garlanded the statue of Mahatama Gandhi at Satwari Chowk. She also paid obeisance at famous Raghunath mandir in the heart of the city, besides visiting St Mary's church and a ghurudwara at Nanak nagar.

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