Govt sincere in passing Lokpal bill: Pratibha Patil

Backing Centre's efforts to tackle corruption, President Pratibha Patil today said the government was sincere in passing the Jan Lokpal Bill.

"Definitely, that is the best way. And it should happen that way. I feel so," Patil said on board Air India One special aircraft, while returning from an eight-day State Visit to Switzerland and Austria.

The president was responding to a question about whether the fight against corruption should be led by parliamentary democracy.

"Government of India is taking a lot of measures. The bill is before the House and the government is very sincere in passing the Lokpal Bill and bringing it into force," she said.

"There is no doubt about it," the president added.

A lot of other measures are being taken, she said, citing the the example of RTI.

The president said that "despite such a big country, India is implementing the RTI, which is very important thing."

She also talked about the Amending Protocol to Double Taxation Treaty inked with Switzerland recently.

"India is very keen on it... I took up the issue with Switzerland also. So all measures which are necessary to curb corruption and combat corruption, the government of India taking and that is why India is actively considering becoming a member of International Anti-corruption Academy," she said.