Indian paramilitary soldiers stand guard in Srinagar on Saturday, January 25. Security has been beefed up in most parts of the country ahead of the country’s Republic Day which will be celebrated Sunday. (AP Photo)
Cautions that fractured government after polls will be catastrophic
New Delhi, January 25 (PTI): Favouring a stable government after the coming elections, President Pranab Mukherjee today warned that a fractured government will be hostage to “whimsical opportunists” and be “catastrophic” to India.
Asking the voters not to “let India down”, he said 2014 must become a year of healing after the fractured and contentious politics of the last few years and whosoever wins must have have an undiluted commitment to stability, honesty and development.
Addressing the nation on the eve of 65th Republic Day, the President said he was not a cynic because he knew that democracy has a marvellous ability to self-correct. “It is the physician that heals itself and 2014 must become a year of healing after the fractured and contentious politics of the last few years,” he said.
Mukherjee said the year 2014 was a “precipice moment” in India’s history and it should re-discover that sense of national purpose and patriotism which lifts it above and across the abyss and back on the road to prosperity. “1950 saw the birth of our Republic. I am sure that 2014 will be the year of resurgence.” He said the youth should be given jobs and they would raise villages and cities to 21st century standards.
“Give them a chance and you will marvel at the India they create. This chance will not come if India does not get a stable government. “A fractured government, hostage to whimsical opportunists, is always an unhappy eventuality. In 2014, it could be catastrophic. Each one of us is a voter; each one of us has a deep responsibility; we cannot let India down. It is time for introspection and action,” he warned.
“Each one of us is a voter; each one of us has a deep responsibility; we cannot let India down. It is time for introspection and action,” the President said. He said India was in a turbulent part of the world where factors of instability have grown in the recent past.
He admitted that the promise of India, a history of ideas, philosophy, intellect, has sometimes been mislaid by misfortune and at other times by our own complacence and weakness. “Destiny has given us another opportunity to recover what we have lost; we will have no one to blame but ourselves if we falter,” he said.
Mukherjee said a democratic nation is always involved in argument with itself. “This is welcome, for we solve problems through discussion and consent, not force. But healthy differences of opinion must not lead to an unhealthy strife within our polity,” he said.
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‘Today is the day to reflect’
Nagaland Governor says let us create quality infrastructure like roads, water and electricity
Dimapur, January 25 (MExN): Calling for reflection, Nagaland Governor, Dr. Ashwani Kumar today underscored the need to reorient Nagaland state’s existing policies and plans for achieving rapid agro-economic progress and industrialisation.
Greeting the people of Nagaland on the eve of Republic Day 2014, the governor in his message said, “I think it is now time for us to embark on the path of rapid agro-economic progress and industrialisation. Let us create quality infrastructure like roads, water and electricity.”
Kumar also emphasised developing the skills of the youth and generating employment and livelihood opportunities for them. “In order to achieve these objectives we will have to reorient our existing policies and plans; review land use, its ownership and transfer,” the governor said.
Kumar referred to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution that strives to secure “justice, social, economic and political; liberty of thought, expression, and worship; equality of status and opportunity; and promote fraternity, dignity, unity & integrity” for all citizens. “Today is the day for us to sit down together to review and reflect how far we have succeeded in achieving these lofty ideals,” he said.
The governor said India is a Sovereign, Democratic, Republic where all the constituent States play equal role, enjoy similar powers and have same responsibilities, and that among all the States, Nagaland occupies a special position in our Constitution. “This gives us additional responsibilities with regard to our culture, religion and social practices; administration of civil, criminal and customary laws, as well as, ownership and transfer of land and its resources”, he added.
Kumar said the State has made tremendous progress initiating religious, education and democratic institutions. “We have been able to preserve and promote our arts, culture, customs and traditions. We are also on the road to making progress in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and health. These are great achievements and very positive indicators”, he said. The governor also said the recent initiatives taken by the State Government to commence construction of the Foothill Road, establish Special Development Zones and create Modern Townships are praiseworthy and commendable.
The governor said one immediate need is to “codify our customary, civil and criminal laws” in order to provide fair, quick and inexpensive justice, not only to the people of the state, but also to those who visit Nagaland and do “business with us.” “Change is a law of nature. In order to make progress we have to keep changing and continuously evolving ourselves, our policies and our practices,” he added.
