Corruption 'bleeding people': Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Saturday said corruption was "bleeding people", and claimed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre had done "more to combat corruption than any other government".

Speaking at a meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Gandhi said the UPA government had passed the Lokpal Bill to fight corruption.

A clean shaven and business-like Gandhi said: "The biggest issue is corruption. It is bleeding people. It is unacceptable."

He said that although the UPA government had faced a lot of criticism, "it has done more to combat corruption than any other government".

Gandhi also said the regulatory system in the country needed to be overhauled.

Talking about the recently concluded assembly elections, he said: "A political party's strength lies in the voice of those it represents."

He said the elections "made their point", and the Congress needs to "have the foresight and humility" to accept the messages being expressed "without resorting to the usual props of statistical data and excuse making".

The Gandhi scion also said that there is a need for the regulatory system to be rapidly and radically modernised.

"Frankly, there are no excuses for the length of time required to clear some of these projects. We are a fast moving economy," he said.

Talking about delays in clearances, like environmental clearance, he said: "The real issue in all these things, whether it is environment, or land acquisition, is arbitrary power. Creating a rules framework and taking away arbitrary power will solve the problem".