It is quite heartening to note that President A P J Abdul Kalam appealed for a moratorium on all issues which are impediments to the development of the nation. He exhorted people, politicians and religious leaders, and press to work towards the mission to develop India. We have frittered away our energy in all these years on different issues which did not add any strength to our nation.

He advised political leaders to realize the high responsibility that they are shouldering on behalf of this huge democratic nation and exhorted them the need of "righteousness" in all their actions. Righteousness emanates from sincerity and devotion. Our leaders should realize that they have got a golden opportunity to serve the society and build the nation which many right thinking and service-minded people could do only at a small scale level. Our leaders by virtue of the backing by their party and its support base enjoy the privilege to work for this great nation.

If one analyses the time spent on constructive issues in the Parliament and compare with the amount of time wasted in stalling the proceedings of the highest body of our democracy and also in adjournments, it is really appalling. Our Supreme Court recently asserted that strikes under any circumstances are illegal, immoral, inequitable and unjustified and is contrary to our law and industrial jurisprudence.  

An innocent citizen wonders how to view the indisciplined behaviour of our MPs which leads to adjournments and the ways in which proceedings in our Parliament are stalled. Is stalling the proceedings of the Parliament legally allowed? Is there not a disciplined and constructive way available for our MPs to express their collective protest? Hopefully one day the Supreme Court would take suo motto cognizance of this illegal behaviour of our MPs and put a full stop to it. As the President wondered "are we (our generation) going to be remembered for the number of churches or temples or gurdwaras or mosques added to the existing places of worship"? Already there are lots of temples uncared for in almost every village. We need to provide a sustainable development path to our posterity in terms of water, energy, sound education system, good infrastructure, a clean environment and above all a "safe society" where everyone can amicable co-exist with their own rights and liberty. We should channelize all our energies and resources to important missions such as networking of rivers, enhancing the standard of our education, multiplying our energy production, civic amenities, and good infrastructure to rural India. Have we listened to our President? Will we set our priorities right? Will we wake up at least now? Mr. President, thanks for echoing our views through your message to the Nation on the eve of our Independence Day.