Abhinandan Granth (English Article)

Indeed, both wings are complementary to each other and one strengthens the other. Secondly, Congress must help to generate faith amongst the Indian people in parliamentary democracy. It is true that some confirmed believers in democracy like Shri Jaya Prakash Narayan have stated that parliamentary democracy is inadequate and hence they have advocated partyless democracy. It is not necessary for me here to discuss this new idea which, of course, may have its own merits. But I would like to emphasise that if, under the present circumstances, parliamentary democracy fails in India, totalitarian tendencies—both communal and communist—would be on the ascendence and deal a death blow to the very basis of democracy and socialism in the country. The inadequacies of parlia­mentary democracy have to be removed not by rejecting parliamentary democracy itself, but by broadening its base so as to impart maximum free­ dom to the individual. So, whatever may be the flaws in the functioning of parliamentary democracy in India, Congress must seek to strengthen it in the interest of the country. Further, with the faith in parliamentary democracy strengthened, the tend­ency towards resorting to the so-called satyagrahas, agitations and morchas would be on the decline and the people will have more peaceful times. Thirdly, Congress must try to train up cadres from amongst the ranks of younger Congressmen to take up parlia­mentary positions in future. I am afraid that many elder Congressmen are oblivious of this task. It is necessary to build up second rung of leadership for parliamentary work as much as for the organisa­tional duties. Then only Congress will be in a posi­tion to bring about increasing efficiency in the administration. The State of Maharashtra is noted for clean and efficient administration for the simple reason that younger men have come forward to shoulder the responsibilities of the Government. And indeed Shri Chavan symbolises that younger spirit in the administration. Congress must see to it that Maharashtra's example is followed in other States and more and more younger men and women are encouraged and trained for parliamentary responsibilities. Fourthly, Congress Members of Parliament and State Legislatures must cultivate a habit of discussing and eliciting public opinion in their constituencies on the bills, which are before the Parliament or the State Legislatures. This is one effective method of procuring the co-operation of the people in the Government of the country. The Congress MPs and MLAs must help to develop pub­lic forums in their constituencies with a view to keeping the public well-informed regarding the various measures which the Congress Governments have been taking in the constructive service of the people. These forums will also foster the emergence of healthy traditions of direct democracy in our country, which, in the long run, will pave the way for the crystallisation of a new progressive institu­tional framework in our country.

If these steps are taken, I have no doubt in my mind that Congress will be in a position to carve out for India an eminent place in the annals of the parliamentary history of the WORLD.