Cong backs PM on move to tackle private sector bribery

New Delhi, Oct 21 (PTI) Backing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the move to make changes in law to make private sector bribery a criminal offence, Congress today said corruption is not limited to only one segment.
Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi described as significant the Prime Minister''s comments that government is considering making changes in law relating to private sector bribery.
"What is the wrong in the Prime Minister raising it? How can you not have regulatory mechanism for private sector or for that matter for any other sector. Why corruption should not be checked in private sector? Is corruption limited to only one sector?, Singhvi said.

"It is significant comment he has made," he added.
Singhvi observed that a ''Chinese wall'' cannot be drawn for segments that selectively want to to be excluded from the regulatory mechanism.

He also denied any vindictiveness over the Income Tax Department slapping a fresh notice to Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal asking the former IRS officer to pay over Rs nine lakh in dues by this month-end.

"There is nothing new in the notice. The notices in this issue were issued to Kerjiwal much before Team Anna had come into picture. A fresh notice can be served in an old process.
This is totally unrelated (to the Lokpal movement). It is wrong to read any motive into it," Singhvi said.

"Only because there is a Lokpal movement does not mean all old issues will cease to exist. Earlier, the Office of the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (CCIT) had on August five issued a notice to Kejriwal in the case, he added.