Look at the French system of government

District Diary, a book by Mr Jaswant Singh, was released today at the Maurya Sheraton and Mr Shourie was speaking at the programme. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICENEW DELHI, Aug. 5, 2001.

Mr Arun Shourie, today said the Constitutional Review Commission should consider looking at the French system of government before they submit their recommendations to the government. Mr Shourie said the electorate was fractured because of caste politics, and money and violence also played a part in electing people to the Lok Sabha. He regretted that India would soon be unable “to stand up in the world” and urged the Venkatachalliah Commission, looking at constitutional issues, to look at the French Constitution as the elected President had the right to select the Prime Minister.

Mr Shourie spoke of the need for civility and said anyone who spent a day in our legislatures would know that. He said illiteracy was prized today and vulgarity had become the mark of authenticity. Paying tribute to Mr Singh, he pointed out that very few leaders today actually put their thoughts on paper and pointed out that Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, C Rajagopalachari, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Aurobindo Ghose wrote enormous amounts.