Somnath calls for introspection of quality of democracy

Bhubaneswar, Jan 23 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today underscored the need for correcting the prevailing image of disorder, intrigue, partisan and senseless confrontation, corruption and dishonesty associated with the politics and democratic life of the country.

'' The growing sense of public disapproval of the manner in which our representatives are functioning should remind us both the public anger and also the need to apply corrective, measures by everyone concerned to sustain the system of parliamentary democracy, '' Mr Chatterjee said while delivering the Harekrushna Mahatab Memorial lecture here.

He said the perceived criminalisation of politics had vitiated the political system in a very regrettable manner, adding the degeneration of the electoral system had been corroding the true representative and democratic character of the country's polity and contributing to the growing political apathy and cynicism among the people.

The Lok Sabha Speaker said, '' We need to seriously ponder and address the issue of corruption, criminalisation and communalisation of politics, the vicious role played by the money and muscle powers and the declining voters participation in the polls. '' He said, '' With a stratified social structure gender-based discrimination, regional imbalances, lopsided development, largescale illiteracy and a sizable population living below poverty line we have to concede that we have not been able to take the fullest advantage of the democratic governance in the past six decades. '' ''We need to introspect and see how and why these developments un acceptable to the people are taking place and address the cause rather than target the institution, '' Mr Chaterjee said and remarked that the parliamentary democracy could be strengthened only when those who indulged in activities and behaviour incompatible with the established norm are made to account for such conduct individually or as groups.

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