Corruption was on the rise in several sectors, says AK Antony

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leaders Friday claimed that corruption was on the rise in several sectors even as graft charges against its ministers continues to haunt the party-led UDF government in the State.

Corruption is growing in all sectors, CWC member A K Antony said while addressing the Kerala Secretariat Employees Association golden jubilee celebrations here.

Antony wanted government employees to come forward to end corruption.

A former chief minister of the state, Antony said his experience was that it was difficult to implement a clean administration.

Corruption is increasing in all areas. Corruption happens in the appointment of teachers, students' admission and in local self-government administration, he said.

Mere talk about corruption was not enough, a concerted, sincere and united effort is needed to end corruption, Antony said, adding by that way corruption can be checked to a certain extent.

"People who indulge in corruption are actually cutting the branch of a tree they are sitting on," said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at a function in Kannur.

"Some time they might escape from the cluthes of law, but will lose the trust of people. The strength of democracy lies in the trust of people. That trust has to be developed by political workers," he said.

Former KPCC President and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala agreed with Antony's views. "I agree with A K Antony's opinion that corruption has increased in our public and official lives."

"Corruption cannot be brought down only through governmental actions. Vigilance and Anti-corruption bureau under the Home Ministry has been taking steps to check all sorts of corruption," he said at Kochi.

"But these steps alone are not sufficient to deal with corruption which is growing in all sectors of our society.

Along with the governmental action, strong intervention of people are also required to stop it," he said.

KPCC had stated recently that there were complaints and criticisms from different quarters that there was spurt in corruption in some areas.

Corruption allegations have been levelled against State Finance Minister K M Mani and State Excise Minister K Babu in the bar bribery scam.