Moderation needed in public debates on corruption: PM

He added that they was a need to ensure that honest officers are not harassed for bonafide mistakes they might make while taking decisions

There is a need to ensure that honest officers are not harassed for bonafide mistakes they might make while taking decisions, Prime Minister Manmohan Sigh said here Tuesday, calling for moderation in the public debate on corruption.

Speaking at the golden jubilee of the Central Vigilance Commission here, the prime minister said it was important to remember that the ultimate aim of any anti-corruption mechanism is to contribute towards improvement of the process of governance.

"This can happen only when we encourage bold and innovative decisions making. Therefore, we must make sure that honest officers are not harassed for bonafide mistakes that they might make while taking decisions," he said.

"There is a need for moderation in the public debate about corruption."

In the last few years, there have been vigorous public debates on matters relating to corruption, with accusations flying thick and fast.

"While informed discussion on such matters is certainly desirable, much too often we see trivialisation of complex public policy issues," the prime minister said.

"This is accompanied by unwarranted condemnation of the decision of guilt on the part of those who took the decisions. I sincerely think there is a need to change this state of affairs," he said.