SME Times News Bureau | 20 May, 2019
Vice
President M. Venkaiah Naidu has expressed his anguish over the low quality of
political debates during the just-concluded election campaign with politicians
resorting to personalized attacks instead of focusing on larger issues of
public concern.
Speaking
at a function organized to felicitate the Vice President by his friends and
well-wishers following the recent conferment of Honorary Doctorate by the
University for Peace at Costa Rica, he said that politicians should remember
that they are only rivals and not enemies and said that the language should not
be abusive.
All
political parties, people and the press too should seriously ponder over this
issue, he added.
Naidu
recalled that during his younger days as a legislator, he used to be highly
critical and harsh of the policies of the government but never indulged in personal
attacks.
He
underlined the importance of respecting the institutions of the Prime Minister,
Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition and other public representatives.
The
Vice President expressed his anguish over the falling standards in every walk
of life.
He
appealed to all, including legislators, political parties, institutions and
people in public life, to uphold high standards and values.
He
also urged the people to select and elect their representatives on the basis of
Character, Calibre, Conduct and Capacity to strengthen democracy, although four
other Cs—caste, cash, community and criminality are trying to be predominant.
Naidu
also took dig at the growing trend of defections and freebies offered by
political parties.
He
also advised the media not to mix views with news and said that there should be
an audit of the performance of the public representatives every five years. The
country and the states need able leaders and a stable government, he added.
Referring
to his interactions with foreign dignitaries in India and during his visits
abroad, he said the world was impressed with India’s economic momentum.
“India
is being recognized and respected the world over”, he asserted and pointed out
that the Indian economy was moving forward while the global economy was slowing
down.
Naidu
said that India was respected by the rest of the world for its age-old ethos
and civilizational values and for always upholding the principles of peace and
non-violence.