NEW DELHI, Aug 15: President K R Narayanan today expressed concern over the deteriorating conduct of MPs in Parliament and the cynicism which had crept into the public mind about politics and administration.Addressing the nation from the Central Hall of Parliament on the occasion of the closing ceremony of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the country's Independence, Narayanan also defended India's nuclear tests and urged Pakistan to resolve all differences with India though bilateral means.``I cannot but voice a pervasive sense of public concern over the frequent departure from order and decorum in parliamentary behaviour. Scenes of frayed tempers, often degenerating to violent acts in the well of the House bring no credit to our democracy. Our people take democracy seriously. Let us not betray their faith in it,'' the President told the MPs from both Houses of Parliament.The President's candid observation came in the wake of recently concluded budget session which witnessed frequent unruly scenesand repeated departure from parliamentary conduct by MPs.In his strongly-worded address, Narayanan stressed on the need for legislators to set an example for maintenance of democracy. ``Public office was regarded as a sacred space. Today it is regarded by an increasing number of wielders of it, as an opportunity to strike gold, and enjoy the loaves and fishes of power. Floor crossings and cross-votings in power games are no longer rare transgressions of democratic norms,'' he said.Touching on a wide range of subjects, the President made it clear that India's recent nuclear tests were conducted with the intention of using nuclear weapons as a deterrent. He felt that now that both India and Pakistan possessed nuclear weapons, it would drive home to both the inescapable need to settle their differences through negotiations.He also reiterated India's willingness to join any international arrangements and agreements that are non-discriminatory to rid the world of nuclear weapons. The President also made astrong plea for giving one-third reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures. ``In the golden jubilee year of our Independence, let us not deny them their legitimate social, economic and political rights. Let us gracefully concede to them one-third reservation before they wrest it from our hands by their votes of wrath in the general elections.''Lauding various achievements in the field of science and technology and agriculture during the last 50 years, he however cautioned against tendencies that could obstruct the implementation of reforms and retard progress.
