New Delhi, June 14
President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam today asked Governors to rise above day-to-day politics and “override compulsions” emanating from the Central or state systems to preserve the “light of dharma”.
“The office of the Governor has been bestowed with the independence to rise above the day-to-day politics and override compulsions either emanating from the Central system or the state system,” Dr Kalam said while inaugurating a two-day conference of Governors at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.
Asking them to preserve the light of “dharma” (righteousness), Dr Kalam, in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his senior Cabinet colleagues, said ,“The Governor’s role is to distil the best of aspirations of the people from the vicissitudes of politics.”
Dr Kalam, who had taken a pro-active role in Jharkhand recently by summoning Governor Syed Sibte Razi after his action during the formation of government triggered a controversy, said to the Governors, “You have to decide whether you rise to be a First Citizen or remain caged in the confines of your political or any other ancestry.”
“If you continue to nurture certain affiliations, many will hesitate in approaching you with suggestions and problems. You will be isolated from a large number of people.…That is not the purpose of the Raj Bhavan,” the President said.
Asserting that the Governors’ position is a “position with sanctity”, the President posed a question to them, “Can we collectively say that today such a well-intended position is upheld by each one of us?”
The President’s observation on the role of Governors assumes significance in the wake of the controversies triggered by the actions of Governors of Goa, Jharkhand and Bihar recently.
Referring to his experience during the past three years in office, Dr Kalam said when a state faced a political crisis, the bulk of it had to be faced by the Governor, whose action became the focus of attention of the people and the media.
“While the Constitution provides measures to deal with such contingencies and we appreciate their (Governors) concerted efforts, it is essential for the state and the Central governments to come forward and hedge their post-retirement life,” he said drawing the attention of the government towards the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission.
Besides, the Prime Minister, the
conference was attended by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, HRD Minister Arjun Singh among others.
Quoting from the second century Tamil epic —“Silapadhikaram”, Dr Kalam said if people in high and responsible positions went against righteousness, righteousness itself would get transformed into a destroyer for them.
“The errors of great men are like the eclipses of the greater lights. Whoever deviates from righteousness, whether individual or state, is no more than a passing shadow. Let this great thought dwell in all of us and blossom into righteous actions which are all the more important for all of us who deal with the affairs of the people,” the President said.
Referring to security imperatives and Border Management, Dr Kalam said the innate inequality in our society had been fanned by certain disgruntled elements into “fires of hatred and destruction.… This could have been transformed into a creative energy of development, leading to a broader social inclusion.”
“There is a siege within.… Covert intervention by hostile elements from across the border has also been posing a grave threat to our national security and integrity,” he said, adding “we are immensely proud of our security forces who have been a strong bulwark against forces inimical to our nationhood and sovereignty.… We should also salute those who have laid down their lives in the process.”
However, he noted that the long-term remedy rest on our ability to usher in good governance and rapid economic development with a strong mechanism for equity and justice built into it while respecting local sentiments.
“Given your pre-eminent positions as Governors and Lieutenant-Governors, you can all provide the lead in this direction.… Governors can play a positive role by their touch of sympathy, compassion driven civic actions and imaginative handling of the situation to create a mindset which is proactive in the task of nation building and national integration.”
Concluding his address, the President said: “As we move towards a developed India with economic strength, competitiveness, knowledge power and technology, productivity needs effective governance and empowered management. We also need the gravitational force of ‘invisible leadership’.
