JALANDHAR: The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr, Harcharan Singh Brar, has said that an exercise is underway to study the Lok Pal Act so as to give it more teeth, He said that he had asked the Advocate General to see how the act could be made more effective and if some amendments need to be made, “we are not averse to them,” he said.
Talking informally to newspersons at the residence of Chaudhary Darshan Singh, Chairman of the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation, he said, “I have nothing to fear from the Lok Pal,” which, he said, is the first step towards institutionalizing the campaign against corruption. He, however, declined to comment on the reasons for a review of the Act so soon after its implementation.
Earlier, while speaking at a meet organized by the Thinkers Forum, a nonpolitical organization, he reiterated his resolve to provide a clean administration and said that with the coming into being of the Lok Pal, “the ball is now in your court,” to make use of this institution and help the government in its efforts to provide a clean government.”
He said that he is open to suggestion is which can be of remaining the government machinery. Giving a warning (0 corrupt elements, he declared that whatever little has been done so far to deal with corruption in the state “is only an ad hoc action to the serious problem,” hinting at “bold measure and concerned follow up steps.”
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that with the cooperation of the public he would be able to achieve this goal. In reply to a question from a representative of the exporters, OP Jain, he said that eliminating harassment at sales tax barriers and check points is the next point on his agenda and “something is being done about this also.” He urged the farmers to diversify into agro based industries as availability of farming land in Punjab had reached a saturation point.
Expressing satisfaction at the high rate of growth of industrial production, Brar disclosed that Punjab now stood third in industrial production from the 131h position which it held in 1991.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 13, 1995
