Monday, March 21 2005 15:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: President A P J Abdul Kalam today (March 21, 2005) voiced serious concern over "dubious means" adopted to cobble up numbers to form Governments.

His remarks assume significance in the backdrop of recent political developments in Jharkhand.

Observing that polling processes have been, of late, under "severe strain" with fatal violence, he said, "Let us be honest to ourselves."

The arithmetical compulsions of incremental numbers and the alleged tradability of certain legislative seats, won perhaps through means allegedly dubious and undemocratic, have many a time created doubts on our democratic system in the public eye."

The President was speaking in the Central Hall of Parliament after giving away the Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards to Prime Minister Manmohan, Union Minister Arjun Singh, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Jaswant Singh.

Kalam said when politics degraded itself to political adventurism, the nation would be on the calamitous road to inevitable disaster and ruination.