Committed to clean-up , PM assures PIOs

NEW DELHI: With the opposition ambushing the government over corruption cases ranging from the 2G spectrum scandal to Bofors, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday promised to push for greater transparency and improved safeguards indicating a more proactive approach in combating graft.

Speaking at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, attended by distinguished people of Indian origin on Saturday, Singh sought to signal his government’s sensitivity to graft allegations , “We are examining seriously how to make systemic changes that ensure transparent procedures and safeguards in our governing processes.’’

The Prime Minister’s remarks were a likely reference to the government’s plans for an ordinance on fast-tracking corruption cases, the revival of the Lok Ayukta Bill and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s letter to ministers and CMs asking them to give discretionary powers in land allotments as also her call for state funding of elections. Sonia pushed corruption as a central theme at the AICC session at Burari.

Singh said consensus would be needed to bring about improved governance and asserted the government would “sincerely” work towards this end despite feeling that “( Indian ) democracy and our systems are sturdy, vibrant and have their own in-built mechanisms for course correction.”

On a more positive note, the PM spoke of the growth of the Indian economy and its ability to attract investment assuring the Indian diaspora that the recovery was progressing well despite an “uncertain” global scenario . Growth is expected to be 9%-10 % from next year. “In the last two quarters, our growth rate has been 8.9% and we expect that for the entire year it will be around 8.5%,” he said.

Tax code a work in progress: Pranab

Allaying apprehensions about the proposed Direct Tax Code (DTC), Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday assured an audience of nearly 1,300 overseas Indians that the regulations were still being formulated and there was no firm decision yet. Clarifying that no decision has been taken in terms of DTC as the bill is currently being scrutinized by a parliamentary standing committee, Mukherjee said it is a wrong perception that an NRI becomes an Indian resident for the purpose of taxation if he stays in India for 60 days in a financial year. TNN