Politicians, bureaucrats not ready for transparency

"Country is passing through a new era revolution-- the transparency revolution. The walls of secrecy are crumbling in every field gradually including politics, business, administration and judiciary. Once the trend has started, you can`t stop it midway," he said after inaugurating the renovated conference hall of the Press Club of India.

He said the "transition to this transparency revolution" was facing "problems" as "India is not ready as Indian politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen, journalists, armed forces and all those who are holding key positions are not ready for this transition that is why there are problems in this transition."

Describing it as part of democracy, the senior Congress leader expressed confidence that after a few years they will agree and the "transition will go on."

With regard to efforts to bring about transparency, he said, "For that (transparency), you have to give credit to Indian media, NGOs and social activists but ultimately it was the Indian Parliament through the RTI Act."

The comments assume significance as there has been a surge of campaigns by civil society activists like Anna Hazare for accountability of politicians and bureaucrats and transparency in governance.