M A I N   N E W S

Reset moral compass, ensure gender equality: Pranab
Tribune News Service

President’s Message “It is time for the nation to reset its moral compass…. We must look deep into our conscience and find out where we have faltered…. “Elected representatives must win back the confidence of the people. The anxiety and restlessness of the youth has to be channelled towards change with speed, dignity and order”

New Delhi, January 25
President Pranab Mukherjee today asked the elected representatives of the country to win back people’s confidence and channel the anxiety among the youth towards change.

He advised the nation to “reset its moral compass” while underlining the need to ensure gender equality.

In his address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day, the President gave a historical perspective leading to country’s independence, building of republic by the founding fathers, achievements during the past six decades and the current state of affairs ranging from social tensions, unrest to disenchantment of the people.

Time had come to ensure gender equality for every Indian woman and the country could neither evade nor abandon this national commitment, he asserted.

He suggested that both the civil society and the government must work together to fulfil this national goal, as the price of neglect would be high.

Referring to student’s gang-rape and murder in Delhi, he said the tragedy shattered complacency and described the young woman as a symbol of all that new India strives to be.

“It is time for the nation to reset its moral compass. Nothing should be allowed to spur cynicism, as cynicism is blind to morality. We must look deep into our conscience and find out where we have faltered. The solutions to problems have to be found through discussion and conciliation of views. People must believe that governance is an instrument for good and for that, we must ensure good governance,” he said.

Observing that the country is on the verge of another generational change, he said today’s youth was troubled by a range of existential doubts, including corruption overtaking morality in public life, powerful losing their dharma in the pursuit of greed.

“These doubts have to be set at rest. Elected representatives must win back the confidence of the people. The anxiety and restlessness of the youth has to be channelled towards change with speed, dignity and order,” Mukherjee said, adding that the young cannot dream on an empty stomach.

Emphasising that the fruits of growth must not be for the privileged few at the top, he said, as the country moved ahead on the path of economic reforms, results of its policies should be seen in villages and at the same time India should remain alive to problems of market-dependent economies.

On the recent incident along the Line of Control with Pakistan, the President said while India believed in peace on the border and was ready to offer a hand in the hope of friendship, it should not be taken for granted.