PM calls for reducing role of money power in politics

New Delhi, Mar 29: Stressing the need to reduce the role of money power in politics, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today warned the phenomenon could reduce peoples' belief in the representative character of democracy.

''If people find that only those with money power are able to secure election to public office, they will lose faith in the representative character of democracy,'' he said, Dr Singh underlined the necessity of continuing to ''pursue the agenda of reducing the role of money power in politics so that professionals find it easier to enter public life,'' in an apparent reference to the role of money power in Rajya Sabha elections.

Speaking after releasing a book titled ''Candid Corner,'' by Congress Spokesman and legal luminary Abhishek Singhvi here, he said his party had debated the issue of political funding and was personally associated with that debate.

''Many practical ideas came out of that debate and we have implemented some of those ideas, the Prime Minister added.

''Our municipalities, our panchayats, our legislatures and our Parliament will greatly benefit from the active participation of professionals from various walks of life,'' Dr Singh said. ''I know this is easier said than done. The barriers to entry, so to speak, into public office have gone up steeply and it is not always easy for professionals to enter politics,'' he added.

''Indeed the fact that we have more businessman than professionals entering legislatures testifies to the increasing role of such entry barriers, the prime minister noted.

In order to have more professionals in public life, there should be electoral reforms, especially on the funding of political parties and election parties, he said.

''This is vital if we wish to renew the confidence of ordinary people in our democractic institutions,'' Dr Singh added.

The Prime Minister complimented Mr Singhvi for the book which is a compilation of his columns published in a daily.

''I have regularly read his columns over the past few years, so I am sure you will all enjoy reading the book,'' he said.

Mr Singhvi, he said, had been an active member of the Congress but more importantly he has been an active member of the civil society of the national capital.

The book should reassure us that Mr Singhvi would be an asset to the Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister said.

Union Ministers Jaipal Reddy and P Chidmabaram, former Chief Justice R C Lahoti and Rajya Sabha MP Shobhna Bharati were present at the occasion.

UNI