Pranab's strong address to the nation: 'Anti-graft fight assaulting democracy'

Aug 14, 2012, 19:59PM



New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee in his first address to nation after driving into the Raisina Hill on Tuesday said the fight for corruption cannot be an excuse for an assault on democracy.

"When protests become endemic, we are flirting with chaos," Mukherjee said in his address, which was also focussed on Assam violence.





Mincing no words in underlining the dangers in undermining institutions like Parliament, he said legislation cannot be wrenched away from legislature or justice from judiciary.



"Our institutions may have suffered from the weariness of time; the answer is not to destroy what has been built, but to re-engineer them so that they become stronger than before."



Mukherjee, who while in the cabinet dealt with both Team Anna and yoga guru Ramdev, went on: "When authority becomes authoritarian, democracy suffers; but when protest become endemic, we are flirting with chaos. Democracy is a shared process."



"We all win or lose together. Democratic temper calls for dignity of behaviour and tolerance of contrary views," he said in the nationally televised speech.



The President underlined the supreme importance of Parliament in a democratic set-up.



"Parliament is the soul of the people, the atman of India. We challenge its rights and duties are our peril."



Mukherjee said he was not a pessimist. "I would go to the extent of saying that the glass of modern India is more than half full."



He pointed out how British colonial rule had made India a poor nation. Today, however, India was on the path of economic progress, despite the global financial crisis.



But India, he said, needed "a second freedom struggle" to ensure it becomes free for ever from hunger, disease and poverty.



The address was telecast over all channels of Doordarshan in English, followed by its Hindi translation from 7pm onwards. The address was also broadcast over all channels of All India Radio (AIR) in English, followed by its Hindi translation from 7pm onwards.



In addition, AIR will broadcast the regional language versions of the address over its regional channels from 9.30pm onwards.



This is the first Independence Day celebration for Mukherjee as the President of India. In last month's 13th presidential poll, the UPA candidate salvaged an overwhelming majority against NDA nominee PA Sangma.

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