Govt and CAG will work together, not as adversaries: Chidambaram

09 October, 2012

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has lauded the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India for playing a key role in addressing issues of good governance. He said that the government will take necessary action to address gaps in the governance.

WHILE ADDRESSING a conference of auditor generals in the national capital, P chidambaram said that he sees the role of the CAG and the responsibility of government as complementary to each other, not as the adversaries.

“I also believe that both the C&AG and the Government have the common objectives of infusing greater transparency, improving financial management and ensuring better outcomes. Unfortunately, however, some dissonance has crept into the public discourse and, for reasons which are inexplicable, the C&AG and the Government have been cast as adversarial to each other,” said P. Chidambaram.

Chidambaram also expressed his desire to work with the CAG and his team to erase the impression of adversaries and restore trust and confidence in all institutions of Government, a finance ministry statement said.

The minister said that in recent months issues relating to probity, ethics and integrity have occupied centrestage, which is correct and necessary. He said that corruption impedes economic development, undermines stability and erodes trust in public institutions. He said that the CAG, through his reports, will continue to provide independent and unbiased assurance on how well socio-economic objectives have been advanced, public purpose has been served and how further improvements can be effected.