Fight corruption. President tells people

The President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, tonight said corruption was “corroding the vitals of our politics and our society” and urged the people to be “in the forefront of the fight against corruption, communalism, casteism and criminalisation of politics and life in the country”. In his maiden address to the nation from the Central Hall of Parliament on the occasion of Independence golden jubilee, Mr. Narayanan stressed the need for a social or national movement to cleanse the system for positive purposes. Stating that illiteracy had become a disgrace and an obstacle against the progress of the nation, the President said that a mass movement for literacy involving the people, students, the educated unemployed, teachers, public servants and private enterprises could be possible. In all such endeavours, Mr. Narayanan said, a new partnership between the government and the people could be worked out. Deploring opportunism and value-less power politics which have now taken over the place of principles and idealism that were the hallmarks of India’s social and political life, the President pointed out that the traditional cultural and spiritual values which were the mainstay of Indian civilisation seemed to be losing their grip over society and violence had escalated in the relationship between people, groups and parties.

Service providers to be given interconnectivity

The draft Internet policy, which proposes to throw open Internet services to private operators, is to be placed before the Cabinet next week with three additional clauses. These include permission for interconnectivity between Internet service providers and prescription of operating norms for ISPs. ISPs in different parts of the country will be allowed to interconnect with each other through the DoT links.