Digvijay Singh, as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh in August 1997, had given tips to then Prime Minister I K Gujral on how to check corruption in the country. Along with effecting comprehensive reforms in election laws, the Centre should make it compulsory for all political persons holding office, as well as officials and judges to declare their personal assets, Digvijay had suggested in a letter to the prime minister.

Digvijay Singh had also observed in his letter to Gujral that the perception of the person in the street about the people in public life, be they politicians or bureaucrats, was that of “self-seeking individuals who are exploiting the nation”.

Gujral apparently did not act on his advice or could not act because of the constraints imposed upon him by the fragile nature of his government or was out of office before he could really move in this direction.

Some wags feel that Digvijay Singh, as AICC general secretary and guide and adviser of Rahul Gandhi, is now in a better position to pursue his crusade against corruption as the government and the Alliance are headed by the leaders of his own party.

Digvijay Singh is fully qualified to do so. Not many politicians in the country must be having as vast and varied experience as Digvijay Singh has in not only the myriad ways of siphoning off the public money but also in frustrating the Lokayukta’s efforts at seeking the government sanction to prosecute ministers and bureaucrats charged with corruption.