Congress, BJP competing to excel in corruption: CPI

New Delhi, Dec 19: CPI(M) today accused Congress and BJP of competing to excel in corruption, saying the battle against graft could be fought effectively only after several other measures were taken along with the establishment of the Lokpal institution.

Along with the Lokpal, several more steps have to be taken: CPI(M)

"The scourge of corruption can be effectively tackled when we as a people collectively raise the level of social consciousness in our society. This requires a degree of political morality that is patently absent from the major existing political formations, with the notable exception of Left parties," senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said.

"A political alternative to the two main political formations - Congress and BJP - who compete with each other in excelling the levels of corruption, is required to cleanse our society from this morass of fast declining political morality," he said in an editorial in the forthcoming issue of party organ 'People's Democracy'.

He said the projects under public-private-partnership (PPP), which could be seen as a source of corruption, should be brought under Lokpal's ambit.

While a concrete amendment was moved and a voting sought by CPI(M), it was defeated as both Congress and BJP "joined hands to protect their sources of supply of funds," he said, adding "corruption can never be tackled unless the supply side, that is, corporate funding of political parties is brought under the scrutiny of the Lokpal."

Along with the Lokpal, several more steps have to be taken to combat corruption in right earnest, he said.

These include setting up of National Judicial Commission, law to protect citizens' charter for redressal of public grievances, amending Article 105 of the Constitution to bring MPs under anti-corruption scrutiny, electoral reforms to check money power and role of criminals in elections, steps to unearth black money and confiscating funds illegally stashed away in tax havens.

The setting up of Lokayuktas in states to cover public servants at the state-level was another measure suggested by Yechury to fight graft.

PTI