Manmohan Singh calls for governance based on trust (Update)

New Delhi, Dec 27 (ANI): Stating that rampant distrust of all authority imperils the foundations of democracy, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said our polity with its enormous size and diversity can only be held together when we put our faith and trust in institutions that we have carefully built over the years.

"All systems of governance must be based on trust. It is the people's trust that we in Government reflect and protect. Rampant distrust of all authority imperils the foundations of democracy. Our polity with its enormous size and diversity can only be held together when we put our faith and trust in institutions that we have carefully built over the years," said Dr. Singh in his speech made inside the Lok Sabha today.

"The power of the electorate is the ultimate authority which brings accountability to our democratic institutions. In endangering democracy, we will only be unleashing the forces of chaos where reason will give way to emotion," he added.

Dr. Singh further said: "We are creating something for the future in response to the inadequacies of the present. We have to be mindful of the pitfalls when we look into the future. Let us not create something that will destroy all that we cherish - all in the name of combating corruption. Let us remember that the road to hell is paved with good intentions."

"We, as the representatives of the people, must act now to start yet another journey to rebuild the trust that is essential for a strong and vibrant India," he added.

The Prime Minister also expressed his deep appreciation to public servants, who have shown exemplary integrity in discharging their functions.

"In the course of this debate, the bureaucracy has been at the receiving end. While I agree that public functionaries must be above board and that delinquents must be dealt with expeditiously and decisively, I must express my deep appreciation for many a public servant who have shown exemplary integrity in discharging their functions in an environment of distrust. I don't think all public functionaries need to be painted with the same brush just as all politicians should not be presumed to be corrupt," said Dr. Singh.

"We must not throw the baby out with the bath water. Without a functional, efficient administrative system, no Government can deliver for its people. Let us not supplant the system with one in which the public servants will hesitate to fearlessly record what they think and in that process endanger the very soul of good governance," he added.

Dr. Singh further said: "In judging the conduct of public servants, we must not lose sight of the need to distinguish genuine and honest mistakes in the discharge of their duties from patently illegal acts. Very often our public servants have to take decisions under conditions of uncertainty."

"The future being inherently uncertain, it is possible that an action which ex ante appears to be rational may ex post turn out to be faulty. Our systems of reward and punishment must not lose sight of this fact," he added. (ANI)