UN under sec-Gen calls for upholding Nehru's principles

Mumbai, Sep 18 (UNI) United Nations Under Secretary-General Olara Otunnu today urged India and democratic societies the world over to cherish and nurture Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's principles of unity in diversity and at the same time, stem the galloping corruption which can mar the prospects of development.

Speaking at an interactive session on ''Democracy and Development - A UN view,'' Mr Otunnu, the special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, described corruption as a scourge which was destroying everything in its path.

''This issue should be tackled without any complacency,'' he said and added that issue of ''selectivity'' and ''double standards'' also had to be addressed.

Similarly, the role of money and how it buys political power posed a major danger to democracy, Mr Otunnu said, adding that the money power needed to be addressed and curbed both in developing as well as developed countries.

Mr Otunnu said Africa could learn a lot from India's experience in democracy. ''Africa and India make a good interesting contrast.

The circumstances in which India achieved freedom was nothing short of a miracle. But, India opted for genuine democracy and maintained the tradition over decades. African countries went for a ''guided democracy'' which he said was ''a big mistake''.

Mr Otunnu said democracy could not be imported from outside.

Referring to the Iraq crisis, he said the issue demonstrated how an 'external enterprise' could run into trouble while transforming dictatorship into democracy.

''We have to support the local people in their transition and not supplant them'', he added.

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