The Narendra Modi government asserted that Lt General Dalbir Singh Suhag’s appointment as the next Army chief was “final and binding”, firmly distancing itself from minister of state V K Singh’s continuing attack on the Army chiefdesignate for protecting “criminals”.
“As far as government is concerned, the appointment (Lt Gen Suhag as Army chief) is final and government stands by it,” said finance minister Arun Jaitley, who holds additional charge of the defence portfolio, in the Rajya Sabha.
Jaitley’s statement came a day after the former Army chief had embarrassed the government by rubbishing Lt Gen Suhag’s eligibility to lead the Indian Army. The Congress had pounced upon his remarks to demand his dismissal. In his interventions in the two Houses--his first major speeches in Parliament--Modi promised pro-active action against corruption. “There is a lot of talk of how to punish the corrupt, but we should do our best to prevent it in the first place,“ he said.
Outlining his thinking on reducing corruption, Modi said transparent policies that reduced the scope for discretion were part of the answer. “If a state is policy-driven, scope for corruption is reduced a lot,“ he said, adding technology , including the easily accessible CCTV , can help lessen and curb corruption.
Modi said quick trials will have a salutary effect. “When parties see seats being rendered empty , they will get the message... In five years, Parliament will be taint free. The experiment can then be taken to assemblies and municipalities,“ he said. In the course of his speech, Modi sought to answer sceptics who feel he is selling an unachievable dream.
“Why don't you begin by having a dream...we will find the way to fulfill it,“ he said, adding that a popular yearning for development could be force multiplier for governments. The PM's plan to get rid of tainted MPs was heard attentively. The politically shrewd move would be hard for any party to oppose but the prospect of losing membership is a threat that the MPs were clearly wary about. Modi said lawmakers with criminal backgrounds should go to jail and “free both Houses of this disgrace“.
“As far as government is concerned, the appointment (Lt Gen Suhag as Army chief) is final and government stands by it,” said finance minister Arun Jaitley, who holds additional charge of the defence portfolio, in the Rajya Sabha.
Jaitley’s statement came a day after the former Army chief had embarrassed the government by rubbishing Lt Gen Suhag’s eligibility to lead the Indian Army. The Congress had pounced upon his remarks to demand his dismissal. In his interventions in the two Houses--his first major speeches in Parliament--Modi promised pro-active action against corruption. “There is a lot of talk of how to punish the corrupt, but we should do our best to prevent it in the first place,“ he said.
Outlining his thinking on reducing corruption, Modi said transparent policies that reduced the scope for discretion were part of the answer. “If a state is policy-driven, scope for corruption is reduced a lot,“ he said, adding technology , including the easily accessible CCTV , can help lessen and curb corruption.
Modi said quick trials will have a salutary effect. “When parties see seats being rendered empty , they will get the message... In five years, Parliament will be taint free. The experiment can then be taken to assemblies and municipalities,“ he said. In the course of his speech, Modi sought to answer sceptics who feel he is selling an unachievable dream.
“Why don't you begin by having a dream...we will find the way to fulfill it,“ he said, adding that a popular yearning for development could be force multiplier for governments. The PM's plan to get rid of tainted MPs was heard attentively. The politically shrewd move would be hard for any party to oppose but the prospect of losing membership is a threat that the MPs were clearly wary about. Modi said lawmakers with criminal backgrounds should go to jail and “free both Houses of this disgrace“.
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