Development politics should be promoted : Dr Kalam

Kochi, Dec 19 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today stressed the importance of 'development politics' and called for it to be promoted in the interest of the country.

Briefly interacting with mediapersons after inaugurating the Science and Technology Museum here, Dr Kalam said 'development politics' should be encouraged as this would help in stimulating ''fight for development'' and give a fillip to the country's progress.

''There are two kinds of politics -- political politics and development politics, he said, adding that ''development politics should be encouraged and the media should take an initiative in that front''.

Giving an example, he said ''when one political party says that Kerala would be developed by 2020, other party would claim to make the state self-sufficent by 2010.

''This kind of development politics would create positive platform for the overall progress and this should be promoted,'' he noted.

Earlier, addressing the gathering after the inauguration, Dr Kalam said Kerala should build on the strong foundations of education, health and availability of drinking water.

He also hoped Kerala would acheive the vision he enumerated to the State Legislative Assembly in 2005 of increasing the per capita income by 2009, eradicating poverty, generating productive employment by 2012 and development of constructive waterways for the progress of the state.

UNI MA VD KN1810