NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh admitted on Thursday that corruption had become a cause of serious public discontent, as he pledged to introduce an anti-graft bill in parliament soon.
Singh, credited with kickstarting India's economic boom during his time as finance minister 20 years ago, has seen his reputation suffer during his second term as premier due to a series of major corruption scandals.
Public anger at the dishonest officials and shady business deals that are part of everyday life in India recently drew huge support for a 73-year man who went on hunger strike to force the government to act.
"There is a growing feeling in the people that our laws, systems and procedures are not effective in dealing with corruption," Singh told civil servants in New Delhi.
"We must recognise that there is little public tolerance now for the prevailing state of affairs (and) people expect swift and exemplary action and rightly so."
His government earlier this month accepted hunger-striker Anna Hazare's demand to include activists on a panel drafting the anti graft bill, which could ensure prosecutions of ministers and bureaucrats.
Singh said the bill would be introduced in the next session of parliament, which starts in July.
On Wednesday, a court remanded in custody five corporate executives accused in an alleged mobile phone licence sales fraud that may have cost the country up to $40 billion in lost revenue.
Disgraced telecoms minister A. Raja is already in custody along with other government officials and businessmen over the alleged fraud.
Last October's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi were also viewed as riddled with graft involving hundreds of millions of dollars.
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