Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Apr 8: "India is a land of rich natural resources, skills, intelligence and abundant opportunities. There is a need to consolidate the 'integrated national power'," opined veteran journalist and Rajya Sabha member Arun Shourie.
He was delivering a talk on ‘India - Today and Tomorrow,' at an interactive session organized by the city unit of Citizens Council at T M A Pai International Convention Centre here on Tuesday April 7.
Shourie asserted that the plan of action should envision a bright future for the country in the next three decades during which the 'integration of the national power' should be consolidated and utilized to the advantage of the country. "There is a need to spread social awareness to create this power. Citizens Council and such other organizations all over the country should join hands with like-minded organizations and create social awareness besides exerting pressure on the administrative system," he suggested.
"Bad administration can not ensure development. There are lacs of Bangladeshis who have sneaked into our country illegally, but have been included in the voters’ scrolls by politicians with an eye on garnering their votes. If we raise voice against this alarming situation, we are branded as communalists," he complained.
"Every voter should take part in the elections. At least 60 crore people should caste their votes in the election. In most of the cases, candidates who get a small percentage of votes which is well short of majority get elected because of multi-cornered contests and less number of people participating in the poll process. Corruption has become rampant among the bureaucrats and politicians. Even when people are caught red-handed, the process of investigation extends up to a couple of decades. The corrupt MPs have the power to appoint people who look into these allegations. We should change all these. Our election system should also undergo a change. For this to happen, our constitution should be reviewed," he said. Shourie later answered queries raised by the people.
Shourie said Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been the highest value-based, strongly service-minded leader he has ever seen. To a question raised by Nitte University chancellor Vinay Hegde about the possibility of the Congress and the BJP forming a coalition government, he said this can not be ruled out in future, as two parties who were fighting amongst them bitterly since long, have come together to share power in Germany. He noted that small parties gain advantage when major parties battle it out.
Dr N K Tingalaya presided. Citizens’ Council honorary president N Vinay Hegde welcomed. Secretary Prof M B Puranik was present. Convener M K Suvrath Kumar presented the programme.