Amid a war of words between government and Opposition, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday said it was “unfortunate” that the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill could not be passed by the Rajya Sabha and asserted that the government was committed to an effective anticorruptionlaw.

Wishing to put behind a “very difficult" year, Manmohan acknowledged that the concern about corruption has moved to the centre stage and vowed to personally work to provide an “ honest and more efficient government".

“The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha. It is unfortunate that the Bill could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha. However, our government is committed to the enactment of an effective Lokpal Act," he said.

The government has taken several “transformational" initiatives to tackle corruption which will be "recognised as such down the line”, he said.

He termed corruption as a "serious problem" which calls for a multi-dimensional response. “New institutions such as Lokpal and Lokayuktas are an important part of the solution and we have initiated the process for establishing them.”