Statute review

Sir, - Our democracy has not fulfilled the expectations of our founding fathers. Growing regionalism introduced political instability which led to frequent elections and fractured verdicts. The electorate hence gave no option but to go in for coalition governments. The political parties have resigned themselves to coalition regimes.

Every cloud has a silver lining. The increasing participation of the regional parties has helped the parliamentary form of government to become more genuinely democratic.

The 1999 Lok Sabha elections which installed the BJP-led NDA Government at the centre was a watershed in the electoral history. Ideologically opposed political parties share ...... It is a bold, new experiment at work. The inherent instability in it, hanging like a sword of Damocles, is a blessing in disguise. The secular parties holding the key for the Government's stability act as a check on the BJP's abrasive agenda.

We need steps to strengthen the pillars of democracy - the legislature, the judiciary and the executive - on which the Constitution has been built. Too many political parties born of splits, motivated defections, unbridled misuse of power for self- aggrandisement, a brazen readiness to disobey the rule of law, and the demeaning political - bureaucratic criminal nexus, have dealt a blow to the body politic vitiating the democratic system.

Dr. Ambedkar had prophetically said, ``I feel, however good a constitution may be, it is sure to turn bad because those who are called to work it, happen to be a bad lot''. It has come true. Hence let us cleanse the Augean stables first, leaving the Constitution as it is.

C. R. Narayanan,

Cuddalore

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