Rahul demands action on graft

Jan 31, 2011 |

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Jan. 29: The Congress MP, Mr Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday demanded “stringent” action against corruption amid a wave of scandals that have jolted the country.

A series of graft scandals erupted last year, including a massive telecom licence scam that has undermined the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, as well as allegations of widespread corruption related to the Commonwealth Games that were held in New Delhi in October last year.

“Stringent action against corruption is needed. Punishment should be within six months, instead of 20 years,” Mr Gandhi told reporters today in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. He also urged that billions of dollars in untaxed private and business money, held in overseas bank accounts should be brought back to the country.

“I think we should put as much effort as possible to ensure that what is Indian money, what is the money of the poor people of India, comes back,” he said.

Mr Gandhi has long been viewed as a prime minister-in-waiting, and Prime Minister Dr Singh hinted to reporters last year that he could one day step down in favour of the 40-year-old politician. He is the son of late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and grandson of assassinated premier Indira Gandhi.

Estimates for the amount of illicit money stashed secretly in overseas bank accounts by wealthy Indians and corporations range anywhere between $500 billion to $1.4 trillion.

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