Date:21/11/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/21/stories/2002112106121100.htm

National

Shekhawat sees threat to national integration

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI NOV. 20. In his first major public pronouncement as the presiding officer of the Rajya Sabha, the Vice President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, today sought to rise above his life-long association with the BJP, expressing concern over ``a serious threat to the bonds of national integration as also the secular fabric of our Republic''.

He reminded the members that rulers have to ``be guided by Raj Dharma''. Mr. Shekhawat was thanking the Rajya Sabha for felicitating him as the Chairman of the House. He regretted that ``manifestations of social and religious disharmony have sadly been on the increase'' and suggested a ``proactive effort towards weaving a stronger secular fabric''.

Reminding the members that the enemies of India were using terrorism as a weapon to stall the country's development, he said in order to combat the menace, it was imperative that we remained united and shared the vision of a resurgent India.

Mr. Shekhawat underlined the fact that in public perception, functioning of a democracy was not only based on the quality of governance by the Executive, but also on the respect the public had for the proceedings in the House and whether it considered them relevant to its welfare. ``I urge you to do serious introspection and find out what in reality is the prevailing public perception'', Mr. Shekhawat said.

Earlier, many members expressed distress over frequent disruptions in House proceedings and said it needed to be addressed collectively.

The Chairman said when the country was faced with formidable challenges of economic growth and public governance, the Rajya Sabha should act as a watchdog on affairs of the nation and be a guide to the Union and the States.

Stating that Parliamentary institutions were the temples of democracy, he said from the State legislatures to zila parishads, everyone looked upon parliamentarians as role models. Mr. Shekhawat suggested that the House could, at the end of each session, evaluate the relevance and effectiveness of the proceedings from the viewpoint of the members' contribution to improving public governance and public welfare.

Members across the political spectrum showered praise on Mr. Shekhawat, his personality, commitment to the poor, downtrodden and the farmers and his political sagacity in carrying together people of different shades of opinion. Leading it was the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, who recalled Mr. Shekhawat's 50 years of public service and his fight for land rights, in conceptualising the Antyodaya scheme.

He said in 1952, when Mr. Shekhawat began his political career, their party, the erstwhile Jana Sangh, barely had a presence either in Parliament or the State Legislatures and compared it to the changed situation now.

While all members assured full cooperation to the Chair in the smooth conduct of proceedings, the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, Laloo Prasad Yadav, said the days to come would be an Agnipariksha for the Chairman. He went on to add that Mr. Shekhawat quit the BJP at the right time ``since very soon the party itself would cease to exist''.