President angst at parl paralysis

In his address to the nation delivered on the eve of the 69th Independence Day, President Pranab Mukherjee has cautioned against the decay of democratic institutions. Without mincing words, the first citizen of the country expressed angst at the complete washout of the just concluded Monsoon session of Parliament.

 “Our institutions of democracy are under stress. The Parliament has been converted into an arena of combat rather than debate,” said Mukherjee and to illustrate his point further quoted father of the Constitution BR Ambedkar, who had said, “The working of a constitution does not depend wholly upon the nature of the constitution. The constitution can provide only the organs of state, such as the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. The factors on which the working of those organs of the state <g data-gr-id="39">depends</g> are the people and the political parties they will set up as their instruments to carry out their wishes and their politics. Who can say how the people of India and their parties will behave?” Mukherjee taking the point further said, “If the institutions of democracy are under pressure, it is time for serious thinking by the people and their parties. The correctives must come from within.”

The President also chose the occasion to launch a scathing attack on Pakistan, without naming the neighbouring nation. 

“Peace, friendship and cooperation bind nations and people together. Recognizing the shared destiny of the Indian sub-continent, we must strengthen connectivity, expand institutional capacity and enhance mutual trust to further regional cooperation. While we offer our hand willingly in friendship, we cannot stay blind to deliberate acts of provocation and a deteriorating security environment,” said Mukherjee.

Sharpening his attack especially with reference to terror attacks, the President said, “India is a target of vicious terrorist groups operating from across the borders. Except the language of violence and the cult of evil, these terrorists have no religion and adhere to no ideology. Our neighbours must ensure that their territory is not used by forces inimical to India. Our policy will remain one of zero tolerance for terrorism. We reject any attempt to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Infiltration into our territory and attempts to create mayhem will be dealt with a strong hand.”

The President also laid stress on communal harmony. “Our democracy is creative because it is plural, but diversity must be nourished with tolerance and patience. Vested interests chip away at social harmony, in an attempt to erode many centuries of secularism. In an age of instant communication through ever-improving technology, we must remain vigilant to ensure that the devious designs of a few never overcome the essential oneness of our people,” said Mukherjee.