Nandan Nilekani chides Anna, Kejriwal campaign

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) chairman Nandan Nilekani has said that a "super cop" Lokpal cannot be a solution for "all ills", taking an apparent swipe at the anti-graft campaign by activists such as Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal.

Speaking to television news channels, Nilekani -- the former CEO of India's No.2 software IT services firm Infosys -- said that the Aadhar card and Aadhar enabled service delivery were far more effective ways to fight corruption than "OB van campaigns, laws and inspectors".

"Creating a super cop like the Lokpal sitting on top of everyone will not create a miracle. It won´t work when things are made more difficult for bureaucrats. These are glib solutions," he said in an interview.

Activists led by Anna Hazare have been leading nationwide campaigns against corruption, resorting to public hunger strikes and demonstrations in order to pressure the government into passing the long-delayed anti-graft Lokpal Bill.

"I'm as much for fighting corruption as the next guy. But, I certainly don't believe that by passing a law or putting more penalties on bureaucrats or creating more inspectors is going to solve the corruption problem," Nilkani said.

"That´s absolutely the wrong prescription. Fixing delivery system is more important. Fight corruption by having a bunch of OB vans is not going to solve the problem," he added.

In another interview he welcomed a probe by the Intelligence Bureau and an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General into his Aadhar project, saying that "all problems have been sorted out, there are no concerns".

The IB had initiated a probe into the UID scheme after some cards were found with names of fruits and vegetables on them.

Saying that he didn´t think that it was a case of over-reach by the IB and CAG, Nilekani said, "It is their prerogative. I am now a servant of the government. When you join this system, you have to accept all this."