Dehradun, Jul 13 (PTI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday said that over 200 people involved in corruption have been sent to jail in the last three years, as his government takes strict action in cases such as irregularities in recruitment exams, bribery in transfers and postings, and commissions in schemes.
Speaking at a felicitation programme organised by religious and social organisations for efforts being made towards a "corruption-free Uttarakhand", Dhami said corruption is a "curse" that has hampered development and denied people their rightful entitlements.
"However, bold steps are now being taken to eliminate corruption. Action is being taken against those indulging in corrupt practices or showing negligence in their duties. In the last three years, more than 200 such people have been sent to jail," he said.
He asserted that action is being taken against officials at all levels, and the perception that only "small fish" are punished in scams has been proven wrong.
"Whether it is a small fish, big fish, or even big crocodiles—if they are involved in corruption, we will not spare them. Be it IAS, PCS, or IFS, no one will be spared," Dhami said.
The chief minister highlighted that a strict anti-cheating law was enacted to cleanse the recruitment process and over 100 "copy mafias" have been jailed. He added, "In the last three-and-a-half years, 24,000 government appointments have been made, and not a single case of cheating has been reported."
Dhami said the state government has launched a "decisive war" against corruption, taking inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan 'Na khaunga, na khane doonga' (Will neither take bribes nor allow others to take), and vowed to continue the campaign until the state is free from corruption.
Calling public support his biggest strength in this campaign, the chief minister said, "This is not my honour but the honour of the 1.25 crore people of Uttarakhand, who are standing with the values of honesty, transparency, and accountability."
He also said that the campaign has been strengthened through the use of technology—ranging from an online transfer system and monitoring of examination procedures to a dedicated anti-corruption helpline (1064) for complaints.