Prez highlights corruption in R-Day speech

Addressing the generally low levels of national morale and issues of governance — as eminent economists had done a few days ago — President Pratibha Devisingh Patil highlighted rising prices, corruption and dangers to Indian democracy as the most important challenges before India.

Addressing the nation today on the eve of Republic Day, the President conceded that India was facing its share of challenges and pointed out that the strength of a nation lay in how these were confronted. “Wherever course correction is required, it must be undertaken unhesitatingly and with urgency,” she said.

In her list of challenges was rising inflation, particularly food prices. She urged the government to urgently take suitable action and “look at more innovative approaches towards food security, agricultural production and rural development”, while congratulating India on its economic performance in the face of a global slowdown.

The President expressed concern at the growing criminalisation of Indian society and said sudden and quick rage, leading to loss of life was deeply disturbing. Reminding the country that corruption “is the enemy of development and of good governance”, the President called for systemic changes to deal with the problem more effectively, by “rising above the mire instead of getting lost in it”. She was drawing the government’s attention to the telecom scam, the Commonwealth Games probe and other instances of corruption and telling it to take remedial steps. She further said the repeated obstruction of Parliament was another manifestation of asymmetry in democracy and this could lead to a loss of faith among people in democratic institutions.