From the President’s Speech to Parliamentarians
Posted : March 22, 2005 at 11:47 pm [IST]
President Kalam addressed parliamentarians on the occasion of an award giving ceremony for the out standing parliamentarians on 21.3.2005. Though every newspaper should bring out the full text of the address, it is hardly done. They expect that the citizens of India can read it on Presidents website. However, I feel like quoting a portion for the readers that emphasises on ‘developmental politics’ in stead of ‘political politic’.
I would like to visualize a situation in which the political parties perform in the environment of developmental politics in our country, competing with each other, in putting forth their political vision through their manifesto. It goes like this; let me narrate the sample scenarios:
1. Suppose Party A will say, within 15 years, we will lead India intoa developed nation and also give a development growth plan for every five years and execute it. Party B says, we will lead India into a developed nation within 15-X years through a clear cut action plan. Party C may unveil a new strategy for national development with different indicators and excel in ideas related to our role in the global arena. It may give a road map to ensure that India becomes a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council within a period of X years.
2. In my scenario two,Party A says, that we will create a nation where there is no unemployment. They suggest achieving this, through a mechanism of generating more employment providers rather than employment seekers. Party B will say we will provide an environment and mechanism where no cases are pending in the courts and ensure that law & order problems are minimized and people live in a harmonious environment. Party C says that no Indian will go to sleep hungry. It has a vision to make sure that all the nations look up to India to provide the intellectual leadership to make the world peaceful, stable and a beautiful planet to live in. World peace will be Indias target.
3. In scenario three, Party A will say, we will ensure that all our border conflicts between neighbouringcountries are resolved within a period of 10 years. Party B will say, we will resolve all the border conflicts and create a harmonious relationship among the neighbouring countries within a period of 5 years. Party C may say border trade will become borderless. Commerce brings prosperity and prosperity brings peace. When the opportunity is given for a particular party by the people to implement the development plan and it becomes a reality with the support of all members, the country and the people will be blessed by the noble act of the Parliamentarians. Democracy provides an opportunity to everyone to prove himself or herself how better he or she can perform in realizing the vision of the nation. The need for removal of poverty totally, the need for providing opportunities for all our people in the fiercely competitive and knowledge based world and the need for providing security to the people and nation in the complex world of today, these multiple needs would lead to the necessity of our graduation from Political politics to Developmental politics.
He continued:
I am sure, I have your permission to speak some bare truths which we all know, are a fact but would refuse to acknowledge. I have no hesitation in talking to you about them, because I am part of you; I am as much part of the Parliament, as you all are, and I am as much concerned about the success of our Parliamentary system, as you all are. Our Polling processes have been, of late, under severe strain with certain fatal violences. Let us be honest to ourselves. The arithmetical compulsions of incremental numbers and the alleged tradability of certain legislative seats, won perhaps through means allegedly dubious and undemocratic, have many a time created doubts on our democratic system in the public eye. When politics degrades itself to political adventurism the nation would be on the calamitous road to inevitable disaster and ruination. Let us not risk it. It is time all of us did an introspection and grew up to the expectations that were enshrined so diligently and optimistically by the founding fathers in our Constitution so that India sustained itself and grew as a mature, healthy, vibrant, democratic nation.
In every action of Parliament Members, our 540 million youth who are below 25 yearsof age should see in you great leaders, who can be their role models who are going to bring a dynamic change in politics and the developmental missions. We owe it to the voters to fulfill their expectations due to which we are here. The ascending trajectory of the nations progress cannot be ensured, unless we put the nation above ourselves
- Indra
Category: Government Policy/Administration |
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