Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called a meeting of all political parties on Wednesday to help douse anti-corruption protests that have spiralled in the past week. Here's a look at some of the major corruption issues facing the ruling Congress party:
Anti-corruption legislation
The government has been in deadlock with social activist Anna Hazare about a parliamentary bill, first tabled in 1968, to create a special ombudsman to prosecute ministers, bureaucrats and judges. By going on a fast and mobilizing thousands of supporters, Mr. Hazare prompted the government to reintroduce the legislation.
Telecoms licensing row
India may have lost up to $40-billion (U.S.) in revenue when the telecoms ministry gave out lucrative licences and radio spectrum in 2007-2008 at below-market prices, the state auditor has said. In a report last fall, India's Comptroller and Auditor-General said rules were flouted when the licences were awarded, which led to many ineligible firms winning licences. Telecoms minister Andimuthu Raja was sacked after the report was released.
Commonwealth games fiasco
Controversy has swirled around last October's 2010 Commonwealth Games, held in New Delhi. Construction of major structures such as stadiums and athlete housing missed a series of deadlines, ran many times over their original cost and were shoddily maintained, which became a PR disaster for the government.
Space agency scandal
India's space agency is being probed for granting a private firm a lucrative mobile Internet bandwidth in 2005 without a proper bidding process; reports say it has cost the government up to $44-billion. Mr. Singh, who personally oversees India's space ministry, denies any revenue was lost.
Housing scam
Congress party officials, bureaucrats and military officials, including the former army chief, have been accused of taking over a plush Mumbai apartment block intended for war widows. After the news was reported, the government fired the powerful chief minister of western Maharashtra state, a Congress party member.
Reuters