Kolkata: Observing that the “workability of democratic set-up of the country was getting questioned”, former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee Monday called for initiatives to get democracy back on track.
“After more than six decades of our Independence, we have come to a stage, when questions are being asked about the workability of our democratic set up based on the Parliamentary system and about the utility and relevance of our vital democratic institutions,” Chatterjee said here.
He was addressing a seminar on “Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy” in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on the occasion of its platinum jubilee celebrations.
Stressing on the need for political reforms, Chatterjee called for initiatives to restore democracy back on track and winning back confidence of the people. He also advocated the people’s right to recall their elected representatives.
“To my mind, to begin with, the people must have the power to recall their elected representatives in the event of the latter not acting in tune with their interests. This will send a message to political parties and their politicians who do not follow the norms of democracy in the electoral arena,” he said.
Speaking on the issue of corruption, Chatterjee said: “The issue of probity in pubic life has assumed an added significance in our political system and what have brought the issue to the centre stage are the influence of money and muscle power in our electoral processes and the resultant aberrations of politics.”
He also said that politics in the country has an image of “intrigue, hatred, venality, disorder and anarchy, strongly detested by our people”.
– IANS
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