Corruption has permeated into all walks of life: Lokayukta

Corruption has permeated into all walks of life: Lokayukta

Mangalore Today News Network

Feb 18: Udupi, Feb 18: Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde said on Thursday that corruption had permeated into all walks of life, including private sector, in the country.

He was speaking after inaugurating a State-level commerce, management and cultural festival, “M-battled”, organised by the Milagres College at Kallianpur here.

Mr. Hegde said that corruption was no longer confined to administration and politics. The quality of people being elected to the Lok Sabha and the State assemblies was one of the reasons for many problems affecting the country. Contrast to this, freedom fighters gave up their profession, property and lives for the sake of the country. The founding fathers of the Constitution had high aspirations for the country when they began drafting it.

They were idealistic people with dreams for a better future. “But unfortunately, there has been a steady deterioration of values,” he said.

Political parties at the Centre were fighting over whether to have a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) or a Public Committee Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry into the 2G spectrum scam. “People are not interested in either the JPC or PAC. They only want an honest probe which would bring out the truth,” he said.

Politicians believed that they were masters. “People cannot be elected to make the elected office a profession. They are elected to serve. They are not masters. They are public servants,” he said.

The only way to change the system was that people should make a distinction between legally earned wealth and illegally made wealth. “People should recognise only those who earn their wealth in a legal manner,” he said. hindu