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India's prime minister announces independent inquiry

India's Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has announced that there will be an independent inquiry into a bribery scandal which has rocked his government.

South Asia correspondent Jonathan Harley reports.

CART: A Supreme Court judge will investigate allegations by an Indian news web site that senior politicians, bureaucrats and defence officials took bribes in exchange for influence in defence contract deals. Three days after the scandal hit, and the resignation of two Cabinet mnisters later, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee gave a televised national address in which he promised to clean up any corruption which may exist in India's defence establishment. "I can get to the bottom of the allegations which had been made, I shall work to clean up the dirt that have dcome into view." Prime Minister Vajpayee's given four-months for the enquiry to b e conducted and in the short term he'll be hoping that this announcement will relieve oppositioln pressure on his government to resign. Jonathan Harley, New Delhi.

17/03/01 8:26:24 | ABC Radio Australia News

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