Similarly the mid-term elections in four large States were conducted in 1969 in a largely peaceful manner. These elections demonstrate the deep-rooted commitment of the Indian people to the processes of democratic government. Again, even though there were serious differences between political parties on some constitutional decisions taken in 1967, the great political debates on issues like Centre-State relations, the powers of the Governor, and the political defections were carried on in terms of the Constitution. I think if we consider the situation in this perspective, there is no cause for undue pessimism. In fact there are some signs that some political parties which initially started with a great deal of hostility towards the constitutional system are gradually adjusting themselves to the requirements of the parliamentary government. Of course such adjustment is not easy owing to the nature of their ideology, but the point is that efforts are being made. Therefore, I am not unduly worried by the pronouncements of the death of Indian democracy which indeed appears to me to be a young but virile plant, and it shall not be uprooted by every passing wind.
These, in brief, are some answers to the questions that I posed in the beginning. It is the nature of politics of a democratic society that no final answers can be given. In any case, final solutions have a very odious ring. What all of us can reasonably work for is to try and to resolve the conflicts inevitable in a free society with the help of reason and to preserve always our faith in the values of rational debate and persuasion. For these are the conditions of freedom.
