Multi-pronged strategy to fight graft needed: Prez

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Saturday emphasised on a multi-pronged strategy to root out corruption, pointing out that there was heightened public expectations from the Indian polity to deal with bribery, which hurt the common man the most.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Saturday emphasised on a multi-pronged strategy to root out corruption, pointing out that there was heightened public expectations from the Indian polity to deal with bribery, which hurt the common man the most.

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"People's sentiment against corruption in public life is on the rise," the President said in her inaugural address at the two-day conference of Governors that began on Saturday.

"It has to be rooted out," she added, touching upon the topic that didn't specifically figure on the agenda of the conference, but was one of the important causes leading to other challenges such as Leftwing extremism.

Patil prescribed a multi-pronged approach - combining preventive and punitive interventions - including simpler rules, transparent processes, judicious exercise of discretion, prompt delivery systems and better public accountability.

Moving back to agenda items, Patil urged the Centre and state governments to create an "effective deterrence to achieve zero-tolerance towards terrorism" and emphasised that the country's internal and external security needs foremost attention.

The country cannot lose sight of multiple challenges of Leftwing extremism even as it feels proud of its technological achievements.

"Both Centre and state governments have to work together to fortify our security architecture and create an effective deterrence against terror," Patil said. "We look forward to hearing from the Governors of those states that share international borders, of how best to address security concerns."