Opposition should help in passage of Lokpal Bill: Sonia Gandhi

NEW DELHI: Calling corruption a "plague", Congress President Sonia Gandhi said the government was committed to eradicating it and hoped that the opposition will help in passage of anti-graft measures including Lokpal.

She said together with the Lokpal bill, the government is working on a variety of legislations "which will systematically fight corruption."

"I hope that the opposition will support us in passing these important measures," Gandhi said addressing a Youth Congress convention here.

During her over 10-minute address, her first public appearance after her return from abroad where she underwent treatment for an undisclosed ailment, Gandhi made no reference to the raging controversy over FDI in retail.

She said, "The political system needs administrative, judicial and electoral reforms including state funding of elections and fast tracking of corruption cases."

Referring to the issue of corruption, she said, "Corruption is indeed a plague of public life.... We are committed to eradicating it."

She said the UPA government is all set to introduce the Right to Food Bill in the current session of Parliament.

"It is our government that has brought in the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, the Right to Information, the Forest Rights Act and the Right to Education. The right to food bill is to be introduced in the current session of Parliament," Gandhi said referring to a variety of legislations brought by the UPA government.