The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : People told to imbibe moral values to fight corruption

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 24, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

People told to imbibe moral values to fight corruption

Staff Reporter

Book on former Lokayukta N. Venkatachala released

THAT'S INTERESTING: Former Chief Justice of Kerala and Karnataka High Courts V.S. Malimath (right) and Surana College principal K.E. Radhakrishna at the book release in Bangalore on Sunday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: Unless a drive is taken up to inculcate moral values and to instil a dislike towards corrupt practices in people, efforts to eradicate corruption will be in vain, said former Chief Justice of Kerala and Karnataka High Courts, V.S. Malimath.

Mr. Malimath said corruption had taken deep roots in society. Such cases were on the rise despite anti-corruption laws and also the good work done by former Lokayukta N. Venkatachala. "We have come to accept that there is nothing wrong in giving bribe either for getting what one ought to get or for getting what one ought not to get," he said.

Mr. Malimath said, "The Government, if it is serious about eradicating corruption, should launch a national movement to inculcate morality in people. This is necessary as there is distortion among people about what is good and what is bad." Newspapers should also take up the cause by canvassing for this transformation of society, he added.

Mr. Malimath was speaking after releasing a book, "Bhale Lokayukta", and its English version "Wah Lokayukta", on Sunday.

The book is a compilation of reports on raids conducted by Mr. Venkatachala and his style of functioning. The book is written by P. Rajendra and translated into English by Niranjan Nikam.

Freedom fighter M.R. Doreswamy said, "The Government looks disinterested in tackling corruption as it is found to be hand-in-glove with corrupt officers. People also seem unconcerned."

Vishweshwar Bhat, editor of Vijaya Karnataka, and K.E. Radhakrishna, principal of Surana College, spoke.

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