Rahul Gandhi for stringent action against corruption

Rahul Gandhi today demanded stringent and speedy action against corruption and joined the debate on black money stashed abroad, saying Indian money lying outside the country should be brought back.

"We have to look into this issue (corruption) in a collective way. Stringent action against corruption is needed. Punishment should be within six months, instead of 20 years," he said, addressing a press conference on the third and last day of his visit to Maharashtra.

He was replying to questions on the burning of an additional collector in Nashik by the oil mafia earlier this week and that why action was not taken against the adulteration racket despite a 15-year-old official report on the issue.

Expressing shock over the killing of the official and promising strong action against the oil mafia, he said one has to look into the issue why this was happening and to ensure that such incidents (burning alive) do not recur.

"The way I see this is that corruption is a serious issue. It (the burning of the official) is a symptom. We have to see that the symptom does not spread. I believe we have to change the system.We have to go deeper into the systems as to what is there in the system that makes this happen," he said.

The Congress general secretary said collective efforts were needed to tackle corruption and his party had taken stern action against corruption.

"Corruption is taking place because doors of the political system are closed and the average person who wants to do good is not allowed in," Gandhi said.

"Common people feel politics is corrupt...it is not working the way it should work. We believe the only way to change this is to look at the way parties are structured," he said.

On the issue of black money stashed abroad, he said, "First of all, it is not true that government is not putting in enough efforts. I think we should put as much efforts as possible to ensure that what is Indian money, what is the money of the poor people of India, comes back."

He said there was tremendous amount of money that is generated by the system which is growing at 8-9 per cent and may grow at 10-11%.

"The huge amount of money that is generated belongs to the poor of India and we need to ensure that this money is used for education, healthcare and other needs of the poor," Gandhi said.

Gandhi said political parties lack democracy and there was a "rot" in the political structure which needs to be changed by opening the doors of the system.

"The rot is in the political structure. We have to change that. My whole attention is towards that," he said.

"The answer lies in opening the doors of political system," Rahul, who is on the last leg of his three-day visit to Maharashtra, told reporters here.

"What disturbs me is that everybody points to corruption but few people actually look at the political system where the problem lies," he said.

The Congress leader said he "knew there are many youngsters who look at politics and say that is not for us."

"My request to youngsters who are educated and talented is to take a look at Youth Congress website. Come and help me build the structure," he said.

"I need ten years of your life. Give me ten years of your life and after that you will be very proud of your contribution," he said.

In the political process, he said, "The real challenge for us is to open the doors to youngsters. We have started a democratic process in the Youth Congress. There is not a single nominated person. This is the way ahead."

To a query on his reported remarks that under a single party rule Congress government in the past had kept prices under check, Gandhi said, "I never made any connection between coalition and price rise."