Today, in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi read out the clearest articulation of the government's stand on the lokpal isssue. Manmohan Singh, prime minister and beleaguered, sat silent.

Gandhi did not differ significantly with Singh on the issue. But he spoke with clarity, conviction and confidence - three things that have eluded the PM and his council in their statements about jan lokpal. Here was a Congressman who had shied away from being part of the government so far, beating the PM at his own job.

It was also lost on no one that the statement had been written for someone who could assert the government's stand in Parliament. It acknowledged the people and Anna Hazare's protest, the need for measures to tackle graft while saying that lokpal was no panacea.

It solicited the opposition's cooperation on the issue while subtly reminding some parties of the sordid scams involving their leaders.

It raised the communalism bogey, in the backdrop of open support of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for the jan lokpal protests, while overtly touting Congress' concern for 'secular' ideals.

Most importantly, it was tailor made for Rahul Gandhi, given the perceptions the commons hold of him. And he did not fail its scope. Sure, there was opposition din. But the lackadaisical backbenchers of the ruling party (mostly young MPs) and the stalwarts of the treasury benches alike had his back throughout. This support has since long ceased for Singh.

Though reading out from a written document is not the bearing of an Indian leader, Gandhi's posturing more than made up for it. Despite the sneers parroting a supposed braintrust is likely to earn, the Congress general secretary spoke with command becoming of a leader of the house while Pranab Mukherjee played an eager lieutenant.

He asserted Parliament's supremacy in legislation even as he acknowledged vox populi's role in democracy. He was not coy about politicising corruption and yet he managed to sound sincere in his appeal to opposition parties to work with the government for beating corruption. Even as he thanked Team Anna for articulating the people's frustration he skillfully hijacked its agenda by calling for electoral reforms. He advocated government funding for political parties as a means to cap expenses and curb graft, something that Arvind Kejriwal has been lobbying for.

The prime minister was expected to grab these political brownie points for the government. Instead, it was a reluctant heir who played the field to near expertise.

Lokpal Act alone will not eradicate corruption: Rahul

(PTI)

Breaking his silence, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today asserted that Lokpal Act alone will not help eradicate corruption and appeared to disapprove Anna Hazare's fast, saying "individual dictates" must not weaken democratic process as dangerous precedent could be set.

Agreeing that "corruption is pervasive" which operates at "every level", Gandhi said in the Lok Sabha that a set of effective laws along with creation of an statutory institution of Lokpal like the Election Commission would be required to fight the malaise.

"We cannot wish away corruption by the mere desire to see it removed from our lives. This requires a comprehensive framework of action and a concerted political programme supported by all levels of the State from the highest to the lowest. Most importantly, it requires firm political will," he said during Zero Hour, amid noisy protests from NDA members.

Referring to the anti-corruption campaign of Anna Hazare, Gandhi said it has "helped the people to articulate" disillusionment and "I thank him for that".

At the same time, the Congress leader said, "individual dictates, no matter how well-intentioned, must not weaken the democratic process....A tactical incursion, divorced from the machinery of an elected government that seeks to undo the checks and balances created to protect the supremacy of Parliament sets a dangerous precedent for a democracy."

Noting that the real question before the representatives of the people today was "whether we are prepared to take the battle against corruption head-on", Gandhi said, "it is not a matter of how the present impasse will resolve, it is a much greater battle. There are no simple solutions."

He said eradication of corruption demanded "a far deeper engagement and sustained commitment from each one of us."

Elaborating on effective laws needed to tackle corruption, the Congress leader said the critical issues which were necessary to stand alongside the Lokpal included government funding of elections and political parties.

The other issues were transparency in public procurement, proper regulation of sectors that fuel corruption like land and mining, grievance redress mechanisms in public service delivery of old age pensions and ration cards and continued tax reforms to end tax evasion, he said.

"We owe it to the people of this country to work together across party lines to ensure that Parliament functions at its optimum capacity and delivers these laws in a just and time-bound manner," Gandhi said.

Noting that laws and institutions were "not enough", he said "a representative, inclusive and accessible democracy is central to fighting corruption".

Observing that individuals have brought great gains to the country and galvanised people in the cause of freedom and development, he said the faith in democracy was shared by members of the House.

"I know that regardless of their political affiliation, many of my colleagues work tirelessly to realise the ideals upon which our nation was built. The pursuit of truth is the greatest of those ideals. It won us freedom. It gave us democracy," Gandhi said, appealing to the members to "commit ourselves to truth and probity in public life. We owe it the people of India."

Here’s the text of Rahul Gandhi’s statement

Madam Speaker,

I have been deeply distressed at the developments of the last few days. Many aspects of the situation have caused me anguish. We are all aware that corruption is pervasive. It operates at every level. The poor may carry its greatest burden but it is an affliction that every Indian is desperate to be rid off. Fighting corruption is as integral to eliminating poverty as is Mahatma Gandhi NREGA or the Land Acquisition Bill. Yet it is equally imperative to the growth and development of our nation.

Madam Speaker, we cannot wish away corruption by the mere desire to see it removed from our lives. This requires a comprehensive framework of action and a concerted political program supported by all levels of the state from the highest to the lowest. Most importantly, it requires firm political will. Madam Speaker, in the past few years I have travelled the length and breadth of our country. I have met scores of countrymen, rich and poor, old and young, privileged and disempowered who have expressed their disillusionment to me. In the last few months,  Annaji has helped the people to articulate this same sentiment. I thank him for that.

I believe that the real question before us as representatives of the people of India today is whether we are prepared to take the battle
against corruption head on? It is not a matter of how the present impasse will resolve, it is a much greater battle. There are no simple solutions. To eradicate corruption demands a far deeper engagement and sustained commitment from each one of us.

Witnessing the events of the last few days it would appear that the enactment of a single Bill will usher in a corruption-free society. I
have serious doubts about this belief.

An effective Lok Pal law is only one element in the legal framework to combat corruption. The Lok Pal institution alone cannot be a substitute for a comprehensive anti-corruption code. A set of effective laws is required. Laws that address the following critical issues are necessary to stand alongside the Lok Pal initiative:

(1) government funding of elections and political parties,

(2) transparency in public procurement,

(3) proper regulation of sectors that fuel corruption like land and mining,

(4) grievance redress mechanisms in public service delivery of old age pensions and ration cards; and

(5) continued tax reforms to end tax evasion

We owe it to the people of this country to work together across party lines to ensure that Parliament functions at its optimum capacity and delivers these laws in a just and time bound manner. We speak of a statutory Lok Pal but our discussions cease at the point of its accountability to the people and the risk that it might itself become corrupt. Madam Speaker, why not elevate the debate and fortify the Lok Pal by making it a Constitutional body accountable to Parliament like the Election Commission of India? I feel the time has come for us to seriously consider this idea.

Madam Speaker, laws and institutions are not enough. A representative, inclusive and accessible democracy is central to fighting corruption.

Individuals have brought our country great gains. They have galvanized people in the cause of freedom and development. However, individual dictates, no matter how well intentioned, must not weaken the democratic process. This process is often lengthy and lumbering. But it is so in order to be inclusive and fair. It provides a representative and transparent platform where ideas are translated into laws. A tactical incursion, divorced from the machinery of an elected Government that seeks to undo the checks and balances created to protect the supremacy of Parliament sets a dangerous precedent for a democracy. Today the proposed law is against corruption. Tomorrow the target may be something less universally heralded. It may attack the plurality of our society and democracy.

India’s biggest achievement is our democratic system. It is the life force of our nation. I believe we need more democracy within our political parties. I believe in Government funding of our political parties. I believe in empowering our youth; in opening the doors of our closed political system; in bringing fresh blood into politics and into this House. I believe in moving our democracy deeper and deeper into our villages and our cities.

I know my faith in our democracy, is shared by members of this House. I know that regardless of their political affiliation, many of my colleagues work tirelessly to realize the ideals upon which our nation was built. The pursuit of truth is the greatest of those ideals. It won us our freedom. It gave us our democracy. Let us commit ourselves to truth and probity in public life. We owe it to the people of India.