A competition of sorts seems to have broken out between the UPA government and the opposition NDA formation to occupy the moral high ground when it comes to dealing with corruption. While the UPA has set up a group of ministers (GoM) to look into improving conviction rates in graft cases, NDA governments in key states are planning a new set of laws to deal with corruption among public servants.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan told FE that his government has already announced its intention of bringing in a law where the properties of those convicted of graft will be attached by the state.
?We feel that this would be a huge deterrent as far as graft cases are concerned. The conviction would ensure that neither you nor your family can enjoy the fruits of corruption and you actually do return what you have stolen from the people,? he said.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is working on a similar legislation, where again, attachment of property is the lynchpin of the anti-corruption law. ?This is to send a message that if a public servant is found corrupt, not only will assets disproportionate to his/her known sources of income but also other properties will be attached,? said a top official.
Top sources in the BJP confirmed that other BJP ruled states like Gujarat and Chattisgarh might also follow suit on such legislation.
? Corruption has gained centre stage in national politics again and the party is keen that rather than the Congress, the BJP and the NDA governments take the lead not only in terms of governance but also acting against corruption,? said an office-bearer of the party.
He, however, remained silent on Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa?s run-ins with the Lokayukta and accusations of graft.
As the BJP?s national executive in Guwahati is dominated by a resolve to attack the UPA on the corruption, it seems the issue is here to stay and will cast its long shadow on the budget session of Parliament as well.