UPA to harp on reforms push to counter scam taint

Hobbled by a series of scandals, the UPA government will tomorrow argue that it has initiated multiple reforms to curb corruption, taking on its critics on the very charges it faces. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.

Hobbled by a series of scandals, the UPA government will on Wednesday argue that it has initiated multiple reforms to curb corruption, taking on its critics on the very charges it faces.

In its last annual Report to the People before the 2014 general elections, the “anti corruption measures” are likely to be the highlight of the government’s achievements in reforms. Women’s safety — another issue that led to unprecedented public outrage against the Centre — will also feature prominently in the report.

These efforts, however, have failed to convince the Opposition that has already dubbed the Manmohan Singh-led government as the most corrupt in Independent India and continues to demand the Prime Minister’s resignation.

“The Congress-led UPA has failed on all fronts in the last nine years,” BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar said, announcing a nationwide “jail-bharo” movement from May 27-June 3 against the “corruption-ridden” UPA government.

“The government remains committed to ushering in reforms for greater transparency, probity, integrity and accountability in governance,” the draft copy of the report accessed by HT says.

Severely hit by scams ranging from the 2G spectrum allocation to the latest cash-for-railway posts, the ruling coalition would argue that it has attached importance to several bills, including the one on lokpal.

Empowerment of women is likely to be the third chapter of the report. Apart from highlighting the National Mission for Empowerment of Women, it will list a few bills such as criminal law amendments, sexual harassment of women at workplace to show the government’s achievements.