Minister's arrest reveals only the tip of the iceberg of corruption: Dr. JP

The Central Bureau of Investigation's arrest of Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana indicates how deep the rot in Andhra Pradesh Government is, commented Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan here today.

"It is a reflection of rampant and habitual abuse of authority, a hallmark of politics and governance in the State for several years," said Dr. JP in a media statement.

He appealed to all sections of people to cooperate with the investigating agencies and help expose and punish the guilty in all corrupt deals involving abuse of power, illegitimate gains to certain favored people, loss to public exchequer and loss of precious natural resources.

Dr. JP pointed out that there are many more in the Government, public sector and corporate world who acted with great impunity and plundered the State. They must be thoroughly investigated and the money flow established in the crimes for which they are charged.

"Above all, the process of justice must be speeded up and a framework created to ensure that everybody, no matter how high, is brought to book."

He called for vastly strengthening the investigative and forensic abilities of the CBI, which as of now does not have adequate resources to investigate mounting and complex corruption cases.

Dr. JP demanded that the CBI, ACB and CBCID be made completely autonomous, accountable and non-political independent bodies. Prosecution of offences should be independent of political and executive control. An independent and strong Lokayukta should be constituted at the State level with adequate powers and resources to deal with corruption.

Dr. JP demanded constitution of special courts to ensure swift and sure justice and confiscation of properties of the corrupt.

"What is happening is the beginning of a process of addressing the challenges of corruption. We must not rest until clean governance and policies are in place."