New Delhi: Sending a clear signal to CBI and anti-corruption officials, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday asked them to go after the "big fish" and not just focus on petty cases.
Inaugurating a two-day conference of CBI and state anti-corruption bureaus in New Delhi, he said, "Very often, the fear of harassment and damage to reputation make public officials unduly timid and slow and the whole government machinery ineffectual."
"High-level corruption should be pursued aggressively. There is a pervasive feeling that while petty cases get tackled quickly, the big fish escape punishment. This has to change," he added.
Manmohan said the government has recently decided to set up 71 new CBI courts and expected them to function as model courts, hold day-to-day proceedings and avoid unnecessary adjournments.
"Rapid, fair and accurate investigation of allegations of corruption in high places should remain your utmost priority. The nation expects you to act firmly, swiftly and without fear or favour. And you have the constitutional and legal protection and safeguards to do so," he said.
Noting that the conduct of the CBI has come under severe public criticism on certain occasions in past, the Prime Minister asked the agency to introspect deeply to further improve its functioning.
The PM also warned that if corruption was not dealt with immediately, it would impact our economic growth. Not just that, corruption also spoiled India's image worldwide, he said.
He said the government was helping the poor, but the common perception was that its initiatives never reached intended beneficiaries.
The 17th biennial conference of CBI, which is being attended by the chiefs of state anti-corruption bureaus and vigilance agencies, will discuss methods to strengthen the anti-corruption mechanism in the country.
(With PTI inputs)