Leaders should steer clear of vendetta: Jakhar

Bhopal, Aug 23 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar today said that those in active politics should steer clear of vendetta, after a change of guard, and instead focus on development alone.

''During my Punjab visit, I gave the same advice to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his predecessor Captain Amarinder Singh. It is often observed that an unending game of political vendetta, which benefits nobody, begins as soon as a change of guard is effected,'' Dr Jakhar, who entered his 85th year today and hails from Punjab's Panjkosi village, told reporters in a chat at Raj Bhavan.

Pointing out that it would be better if political leaders made development their prime objective in accordance with democracy's prestige and lofty standards, he expressed concern over a blind race for materialism, craving for wealth and moral decline in public life.

''A serious initiative should be made for solving the twin problems of poverty and spiralling unemployment in rural areas. In this era, the individual has become self-centred and the sentiment is to hoard wealth,'' the eminent agriculturist said.

Maintaining that persons occupying top government posts should direct the government like able riders, he recalled his surprise when his father once told him that a horse possessed four eyes. When asked to explain, his father said, ''besides the two physical eyes, a horse has two more 'eyes' to assess the rider's talent.'' Pointing out that a horse would obey only an expert rider's instructions, Dr Jakhar added that the bureaucracy likewise comprehended the political leaders above it. Therefore, those in power should hold the reins of the administrative process.

UNI