Date:14/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/14/stories/2008121453740500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Give priority to development politics, Kalam tells legislators

Special Correspondent

‘Leaders must not only have a vision, but also a passion to realise it’

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

all smiles: The former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam addressing legislators at an orientation camp in Bangalore on Saturday.

BANGALORE: The former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam kicked off an orientation camp here on Saturday for first-time legislators of Karnataka by urging them to restore public confidence in the political system by pursuing development politics instead of “political politics”.

Dr. Kalam set the tone for the three-day camp to impart personality development and leadership skills, among others, to the first-time legislators by regretting the absence of public confidence in the political system.

He said: “The political system of a democratic country gives vision for the nation, focuses on national development and executes various missions of the government through the supervision of Parliament and Legislature. Still, the political system does not enjoy the full confidence of the public. Why?”

The political system would command respect from the people only when the elected representatives accorded priority to development politics instead of engaging themselves in “political politics”. “Political politics is essential for your election and you have crossed that milestone. Today, what is needed for your constituency is development politics,” he said.

He said leaders must not only have a vision, but also a passion to realise it and be able to travel into an unexplored path. A leader should be transparent in every action and work with integrity.

On the occasion, Dr. Kalam administered an oath against corruption to the legislators. He said legislators could be role models in the fight against corruption. He said: “The message I would like to give you is a corruption free constituency, corruption free Karnataka and corruption free India are certainly possible and legislators of Karnataka could be role models. Will you?”

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar and Director of IIM-B Pankaj Chandra spoke.

A total of 85 MLAs and 43 MLCs attended the inaugural session of the camp.