PANAJI
Vice President of India Venkaiah Naid, who arrived in Goa on a six-day stay on Friday said that legislators are supposed to empower people and not themselves.
Addressing the Goa Legislator's Day function, Naidu said “Nation comes first, party is next and self is last.
He added that politicos are being tarnished because of a few 'bad apples' due to few people,”
Speaking further to an audience comprising mostly of legislators and ex-MLAs, Naidu also said the people in India think the right character is rare among politicians.
"Unfortunately, the people's perception is that the right character among the politicians is in short supply. I am sorry I am frank. One has to be frank. This is what is happening. The image of the politicians is going down, because of the conduct of some people," Naidu said.
Outlining the other positive attributes expected of law makers, Naidu urged them to develop strong connect with the people they represent to properly assess and understand their difficulties and aspirations; right conduct both in public and inside the legislatures; character based on moral integrity; capacity to understand the emerging complexities and deliver and communication skills for effective communication with the people and all other stakeholders.
The Vice President said, “Any legislature is as good as its members. Legitimacy of both of them are interdependent as each of them draw sustenance from the other.” He further noted that any legislator modelled on these six positive attributes would most certainly like the House to ‘Discuss, Debate and Decide’ so that she/he can make useful contribution rather than being disrupted and that is the difference that able legislators can make to the functioning of legislatures.
"You have seen what happened recently in Karnataka... Earlier even in Parliament and in some legislatures. I would request everybody concerned, legislators and political parties, please reflect and ensure your legislators function effectively," Naidu said.
He also had a word of advice for the media urging the fourth estate to stop sensationalism, which he lamenyed was becoming a trend.
"Media of late is becoming sensational. Sensational means, you lose sense of proportion. We must really project constructive behaviour, not obstructive behaviour. Some people are often tempted, because they get headlines if they do something (like) tear a paper, go to the well of the House and then do something," he said.
The Vice President complimented the people and successive governments of Goa for the emergence of the State as the most developed in the country with the highest per capita Income in the country and the best human development indicators since its liberation from the colonial rule 60 years back after a long drawn struggle.
However, referring to Goa having had as many as 30 governments during the 57 years since the first elections in 1963, Naidu said that it is a huge number by any reckoning and it is difficult to justify such a political flux which results in negative perception.
He raised the question of “Would Goa have done much better with more political stability. I expect all stakeholders and in particular, the legislators to deeply reflect on this issue as you have to find answers to the challenges that the State has to overcome if it is to retain its frontline position.”
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VP's advice to Goa: diversify beyond tourism and mining
PANAJI: Goa has to look for diversification of growth by seizing the opportunities being offered by the new age technologies, advised Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.
“Tourism and mining have been the main drivers of Goa's success story. Limitations of land availability, mounting ecological concerns, and mining reaching its saturation are big impediments for further industrial developments of the state,” he said.
