Anna had high moral ground: Former Home Secy Pillai

Shillong, Aug 29: Former Union Home Secretary G K Pillai today (Aug 29) said anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare had a "high moral ground" and that the Lokpal issue was being resolved in the "spirit of democracy".

"The real problem was that the Lokpal Bill was brought to the Parliament eight times but was never passed. People had an impression that the Parliament was reluctant to pass the bill. That is why high moral ground was with Anna Hazare and he exploited it very well," Pillai said, adding that "the matter was being resolved in the spirit of democracy".

Hoping that a ''strong'' Lokpal Bill would be passed by the Parliament, Pillai said, "Corruption is big public issue and eventually affects everybody... from the common man to the rich."

He, however, contended that just a bill cannot root out corruption. "People should not give bribes. The government should also put systems in place like a citizen's charter. Servcie should be given in specified time-frame," Pillai said.

PTI