The Times of India:Sunday 21 August 2011.
GUWAHATI: Anti-corruption movements have a strong supporter in chief minister Tarun Gogoi. As the UPA government is locked in a bitter tussle with Team Anna, Gogoi here said he supports such agitations as they have created mass awareness among people.
After attending a function at the Congress headquarters here on Saturday to observe former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's birthday, Gogoi said, "I support anti-corruption movements. The most significant outcome so far is that they have created mass awareness against graft. If people are aware, corruption will be checked. But it has to remain instilled in their minds for ever and not just a day or two."
The chief minister, in his third successive term in the state, said, "A law is certainly required to counter corruption in the country but the Constitution allows only Parliament to frame laws and not by an individual. I do not like the method of Anna Hazare's movement."
He added that the Congress has played a major role in framing the Constitution.
"This Constitution guarantees the people their democratic rights to oust the government it does not like. Gogoi, who claims to be a strong crusader against corruption and justifies it by referring a record number of allegations of corruption in the state to the CBI, said he is committed to removing corruption at all levels of society.
"We are the first state in the country to put in force the RTI Act and I appeal to the people to help me stop corruption," he said.
He added that both bribe givers and takers are equally responsible for fanning corruption. "If the people stop giving money, there will be no corruption and the country will prosper."
Gogoi said, "I admit there is corruption but one should see that I am also taking action." He added that he is also one of the few chief ministers in the country to appoint lokayuktas in their states.
Gogoi's last term was hit by a multi-crore funds scam in the NC Hills Autonomous Council and the National Investigating Agency, which probed embezzlement of money from the council to DHD(J), has alleged that besides militants, bureaucrats and politicians, too, are involved in the scase. The case is now being probed by the CBI.
The chief minister, in his third successive term in the state, said, "A law is certainly required to counter corruption in the country but the Constitution allows only Parliament to frame laws and not by an individual. I do not like the method of Anna Hazare's movement."
He added that the Congress has played a major role in framing the Constitution.
"This Constitution guarantees the people their democratic rights to oust the government it does not like. Gogoi, who claims to be a strong crusader against corruption and justifies it by referring a record number of allegations of corruption in the state to the CBI, said he is committed to removing corruption at all levels of society.
"We are the first state in the country to put in force the RTI Act and I appeal to the people to help me stop corruption," he said.
He added that both bribe givers and takers are equally responsible for fanning corruption. "If the people stop giving money, there will be no corruption and the country will prosper."
Gogoi said, "I admit there is corruption but one should see that I am also taking action." He added that he is also one of the few chief ministers in the country to appoint lokayuktas in their states.
Gogoi's last term was hit by a multi-crore funds scam in the NC Hills Autonomous Council and the National Investigating Agency, which probed embezzlement of money from the council to DHD(J), has alleged that besides militants, bureaucrats and politicians, too, are involved in the scase. The case is now being probed by the CBI.
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