Government to take corrective action on corruption: PM

Repeatedly stressing that the government was taking steps to prevent any financial scandals in the future, prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi yesterday, presented the UPA's report card on completion of two years in its second term.

Referring to concerns over the spate of scams, Singh said,  ''These are legitimate concerns and the UPA government is determined to take corrective action… We are taking steps to ... reduce discretionary and arbitrary use of power by public officials.''

Echoing these words, Gandhi said, ''transparency, accountability and probity are at the very heart of our governance, our actions and we demonstrate this.''

For the first time, the report's section on governance and civil society contains a chapter on anti-corruption measures.

However, Gandhi could not resist taking potshots at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for failing to sack Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa over corruption charges: ''It is unfortunate,'' she said, '' that some Opposition parties do not share the same high standards of probity when it comes to their own.''

The function held at the prime minister's residence, Race Course Road, was followed by a dinner party attended by leaders of allied parties and party MPs.