BHUBANESWAR: Can Lokpal break the vicious circle of corruption ? Eminent personalities, including journalists, politicians and civil society members, were of the opinion that corruption is a mind-set and a single institution of Lokpal can’t solve the problem though it can be a beginning. Addressing the 2nd annual OTV convention ‘Foresight’ here on Friday, Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director of The New Indian Express, said, “We are all corrupt by nature and corruption is in the DNA of our blood.” The theme of the session was ‘Corruption runs in a vicious circle. Can Lokpal break it?’.Stating that a Lokpal will not be able to solve the problem, he said the problem will only worsen. Corruption has permeated all spheres and become a way of life, be it getting birth certificates or getting admission in schools, he said and added even in hospitals people try to jump queues. He was severe in his criticism of the political class.Charity begins at home, Chawla said and pointed out how MPs sign attendance register in Parliament, spend the Question Hour in the House and go home even though they are paid DA for the entire day. “Is this not corruption?” he asked. Stating that electoral politics is the fountainhead of corruption, Chawla wondered if there is a single politician who has spent within the expenditure limit set by the Election Commission in getting elected. The MPs disrupt the proceedings in Parliament on so many issues, but how many times have they done it for electoral reforms? he asked. Election expenditure limit for MPs has been set at Rs 35 lakh each, but an MP spends not less than Rs 5 crore on an average, Chawla said and asked from where does the money come from. He said elections to Parliament and assemblies put together cost a whopping ` 20,000 crore. But an MP or an MLA declares election expenditure of only ` 9 to 10 lakh, he said. Chawla said Anna is an idea whose time has come. The idea should be institutionalised. Editor of The Pioneer and BJP Rajya Sabha Member Chandan Mitra said a multi-pronged approach is needed to fight corruption. One Lokpal or a CAG or a CVC can’t solve the vice of corruption, a holistic approach is needed, he said.Mitra also said elections have become generator of black money and corruption can’t be fought without electoral reforms. He underscored the need for enacting a strong and effective Lokpal Bill.Stating that the Anna movement reflected the pent-up frustration against a corrupt system, Mitra said may be they could not sustain a movement, but they are strengthening the fabric of the nation. Lokpal is the first step in the fight against corruption, but its investigative wing should not be under Government control, he said. Calling upon all to rise above politics on the issue, Mitra hoped a strong and effective Lokpal Bill would be tabled in the next session of Parliament. Former Union minister Renuka Choudhury countered the allegations that the Centre is not in favour of a strong Lokpal. She, however, said the mistake of putting all things in a single body should not be made. “If that thing collapses, the system will cave in,” she said. Stating that there is no magic wand to stop corruption, Choudhury said several steps, including RTI Act, Judges Accountability Bill and Right to Education Act, have been taken to tackle corruption. Team Anna member and former top cop Kiran Bedi said though the country has come a long way in tackling corruption, still it has a long way to go. She said nine attempts were made to put in place a system of ombudsman, but all failed. Describing the existing lokayuktas in states, barring Karnataka, as toothless tigers, the activist said the present Lokpal Bill, drafted by the Centre, is also not effective. The problem is, investigative agency of the country is not independent of political parties, she said and underlined CBI autonomy. Arguing for a change in system to fight corruption, Bedi warned that if a strong Lokpal is not put in place, the future generation will suffer. Director of OTV Jagi Mangat Panda introduced the panelists. Baijayant Panda, BJD MP, was present.
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