Lok Satta demands speedy Trial in corruption cases
Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today
demanded that various wings of the Union Government initiate action
against the guilty if there is any truth in the allegations made by
India against Corruption (IAC) against Mr. Robert Vadra.
Dr. JP said that action is warranted irrespective of evidence of quid pro quo and added that the issue need not be politicized.
Addressing a media
conference, Dr. JP said that the IAC accused Mr. Robert Vadra of
receiving an unsecured interest-free loan of Rs.65 crore from real
estate firm DLF and that he acquired real estate from DLF at less than
the market value. If the charges are true, they must be dealt with beyond politics.
Dr.
JP asked what the independent directors in the public listed
company were doing when the company advanced an interest-free loan to
the detriment of its shareholders. The Registrar of Companies is duty
bound to inquire into the irregularity. If the allegation is correct,
the Income Tax Department should treat the receipt of money by Mr.
Robert Vadra as unassessed income and impose tax and penalty. The IT
Department is
entitled to acquire the property for the Government if it is registered for less than the market value.
Dr.
JP said that people were losing faith in the Government and the
judiciary because the wheels of justice grind very slowly in India. He
said that the trial in Satyam Ramalinga Raju's case is yet to begin and
the investigation into cases against YSR Congress President Jaganmohan
Reddy seems to last for years going by CBI's submissions in the Supreme
Court.
In
contrast, justice is rendered swiftly in countries like China and
the U. S. He cited the instance of Bo, a rising star and Politburo
member of the Chinese Communist Party and his wife being punished in a
case of corruption and murder of a British businessman, Rod Blagojevich,
the Illinois
Governor,
being jailed for seeking donation to fund his election in return for
nomination to a Senate seat vacated by President Barrack Obama and an
NRI couple being jailed and deprived of all their property for
indulging in medical fraud. In India, it took more than ten years to
bring the guilty in Rajiv Gandhi assassination to book whereas it took
only one year in the Mahatma Gandhi assassination.
Dr.
JP said people would regain faith in justice only if the guilty are
meted out deterrent punishment swiftly. He demanded that special courts
be constituted on a permanent basis to try corruption cases.
Investigative agencies like the CBI and the ACB should be freed from
seeking prior Government clearances for taking up investigation into
cases against public servants. A law should be passed to facilitate
attachment of properties in
corruption cases. Prosecutors should be independent and immunized from political interference.
Dr.
JP welcomed TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu's letter to the Prime
Minister seeking autonomy for the CBI. In this connection, Dr.
JP recalled that he had submitted a private Bill for amending the
Prevention of Corruption Act but it is yet to see the light of the day
because neither the ruling Congress nor the Opposition TDP is interested
in it.
In
reply to a question on the Government of India permitting FDI
in retail, Dr. JP said that while he welcomed it as a means to reduce
the country's current account deficit, he did not subscribe to the
Government flaunting it as a piece of radical reform and the Opposition
rubbishing it as a catastrophe. The country is crying for reforms in
fields like education, healthcare, agriculture, police, judiciary,
elections and corruption. But the Governments would not undertake them.
In
reply to a question, he said that the Lok Satta would welcome
formation of Telangana as part of a comprehensive and amicable solution.
He appealed to all parties and organizations not to fan hatred among
brethren since they cannot change geography even after the State is
carved out into two or three pieces.
He
reiterated the Lok Satta Party is prepared to work together with the
party proposed to be grounded by Mr. Avind Kerjiwal since they shared
common goals. Informal consultations are going on right now, Dr. JP
added.
Lok Satta leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao and E. Chennayya took part in the conference.
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