Rampant corruption is Goa’s biggest obstacle to its overall development and prosperity. In the crusade against corruption the first priority has to be to eradicate political corruption amongst the elected Ministers, MPs and MLAs.
Today we tend to nab the small fry in the bureaucracy and that to, a constable, peon or a Junior Engineer. We cannot expect the bureaucracy to be honest if the political leadership which controls the levers of power stinks of corruption. The present practice of entrusting investigation against elected representatives to vigilance or anti-corruption bureau is inappropriate because of pressures and fear of retribution by political masters. It is therefore necessary to immediately constitute a Lokayukta in the state to probe allegations of wrong doing against elected representatives. There has to be forfeiture of property of corrupt Ministers, MPs and MLAs as had been strongly recommended by the Law Commission in 1999. Aires Rodrigues Ribandar
