Agency report
New Delhi, Jul 10: President APJ Abdul Kalam's comment that people were looking to the judiciary as their only hope has been criticised as unbecoming and improper by politicians of both the Congress and the opposition BJP.
While launching an e-court project in New Delhi on Monday, Kalam had said society was going through unique dynamics due to the "shortage of leadership with nobility". Read the story
Claiming that the only hope the nation cherished was the judiciary, the President said: "It is said that a nation fails not because of economic progress but because of an increase in decision makers with small minds."
Although he agreed with Kalam that the political class lacked leadership with "nobility", senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Seshadri Chari said the President was wrong in putting the judiciary above the executive as a solution to the problems the country was facing.
"I feel that putting too much dependence on judiciary is not good for democracy. We have already been witnessing the emergence of the soft version of judicial activism," he said.
A senior Congress leader, who did not want to be identified, said Kalam's "attempts" to give a populist dimension to the Presidency were improper.
"The populist dimension and extra constitutional dimension he has added to the presidency were wrong. He has been seeking popularity, forgetting the fact that his office is of great dignity where restraint is the highest quality," he said.
Pointing out that there had been a trend to earn publicity through politician bashing, the Congress leader said: "But one should not forget that it is temporary. Where are those election commissioners (JM) Lyngdoh and (TN) Seshan now?"
Referring to the president's disparaging comment about politicians, he said: "What does he want? Army rule? When you make general comments, you do not make any distinction between Pappu Yadav (the RJD MP accused of murder) and Manmohan Singh."
Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan agreed with Kalam's views on politicians, but said Kalam's comments were probably the result of "the disappointment he was harbouring" after the Congress-led ruling alliance and Left refused to support him for a second tenure in office.
"He is correct. Unfortunately people who are occupying high offices in ruling establishment, by and large, are with small minds, materialistic desires and without principles," Bhushan told IANS.
"It could be a general statement, but it includes Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, because they are the leaders."
According to Bhushan, the judiciary also suffers a shortage of leaders with nobility.
Kalam, who has been voted as the first choice for the president's post in numerous SMS surveys and electronic media polls, has been rejected by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and its Left allies citing past precedent. No one but the first President Rajendra Prasad has had a second tenure in office.