Transparency International supports Ramdev

Bhubaneswar, Jun 4: Corruption watchdog Transparency International today (June 4) supported Baba Ramdev in his crusade to bring back black money stashed abroad and his demand for an effective Lokpal Bill bringing the highest authorities under its purview.

Transparency International India (TII) has been demanding ratification of United Nation Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) as a step for the recovery of stolen assets, a statement released by the organisation said.

Despite repeated reminders, the government has not ratified UNCAC, TII said, adding Article 51 of the Convention provides for the return of assets to countries of origin as a fundamental principle.

Countries that are bound by the convention have to render specific forms of mutual legal assistance in gathering and transferring evidence for use in court, to extradite offenders.

"This is something that TII has been demanding and so is Baba Ramdev. The convention requires countries to establish criminal and other offences to cover a wide range of acts of corruption, if these are not already crimes under domestic law," TII said.

Along with the Gandhian Seva and Satyagrah Brigade (GSSB), TII has been demanding an effective Lokpal which brings under its purview Prime Minister, ministers and members of Parliament.

PTI