Prime Minister writes to all ministers asking them to declare assets - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday wrote a letter to all ministers and State chief ministers asking them to declare their assets and give up all business interests. Dr. Singh has reportedly asked the Union Ministers and all State Chief Ministers to reveal their assets and liabilities. In his letter, PM has asked ministers to declare their shareholdings in listed companies. He has emphasised that ministers should not indulge in the businesses which require government licenses and quotas. Meanwhile, reacting on PM's initiative towards creating a corruption-free and transparent environment in politics, Union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily described it as a positive step as it aims at cleaning up the system. "It's a positive step towards cleaning up the system," he said and added: "I have already declared all my assets and liabilities to the PM." Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has also welcomed the move and said: "It is a positive step and will bring transparency in the system." Dr. Singh's latest step is an initiative to ensure honesty in public life by political leaders and could be viewed as aimed at cleaning up corruption from the high offices.