Date:14/04/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/14/stories/2004041405951400.htm

National

People deserve better, says M.S. Gill

By Our Special Correspondent

The newly elected Rajya Sabha member, M.S. Gill, with his family outside Parliament in New Delhi on Tuesday. — PTI

NEW DELHI, APRIL 13. The former Chief Election Commissioner, M.S. Gill, who took oath as Congress member of the Rajya Sabha today, said that he would strive to highlight crucial developmental issues such as education, health care and problems of farmers and unemployed youth.

Talking to The Hindu here, Mr. Gill criticised the tendency of the political parties to create a `bubble' of promises during elections but failing to keep up on the implementation of programmes.

"Certainly, people deserve better. Parliament is the highest forum for debating and discussing issues relating to development, economic growth, agriculture and drinking water," he said.

As the one who dealt with all political parties during his tenure as the CEC supervising three general elections in 1996, 1998 and 1999, Dr. Gill said that political parties should focus on larger issues.

"A pluralistic society which is a coalition of several cultures that is India can and will be ruled only by a democratic system of governance. We can voice our distress in Parliament but should never forget the macro picture," he said. The former CEC said it was a `great honour and opportunity' to be in the House of Elders.

Mr. Gill said that faceless millions in rural areas were the ones who went out to vote in sweltering heat in comparison to their more comfortable compatriots in cities where voter turnout was always on the lower side.

"Unfortunately, the problems of these villagers and rural folks are the ones which are not addressed," he said.

Commenting on the dynasty in politics, the newly-elected Rajya Sabha member said there was nothing wrong in the trend till such candidates gained the approval of the electorate.

"Why pick on Rahul Gandhi? There are young politicians such as Omar Abdullah, Udhav Thakre, Sukhbir Singh Badal as well. There is nothing wrong if they contest the polls in a democratic way. But their real worth will be judged by their own performance and discharge of responsibilities towards their electorate," he said.

He said that India largely remained an agriculture-based economy and the real India existed beyond golf courses on the outskirts of metropolitan cities where one could find not the `shining faces' but only `dusty faces.'