Hyderabad, May 09: In the wake of corruption charges levelled by Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, MP and former minister P Goverdhan Reddy against the Cabinet ministers, the Lok Satta party has demanded the state government to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act immediately.
Lok Satta leaders Bheesetti Babji, V Lakshman Balaji and P Bhaskara told reporters that corruption in Andhra Pradesh has become ubiquitous and the guilty are going unscathed as the government is not serious about mitigating if not eliminating corruption altogether.
The Lok Satta has sent a draft bill to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act to leaders of political parties to tackle the growing menace of corruption in the state. If the bill is adopted, MLAs, MLCs, members of Panchayat and municipal corporations will be deemed as public servants and attract the provisions of the Corruption Act.
ACB cannot raid the houses of ministers simply because their hands are tied by the present provisions of the laws. Thanks to the court judgment, the ACB has, of late, started raiding even IAS officials since it need not seek prior government clearance. They recalled the legislature sessions have witnessed leaders of both ruling party and the Opposition trading charges. But surprisingly, neither the ruling party nor the Opposition seems to be serious seeking an inquiry and the punishment of the guilty.
–Agencies