Tuesday, May 10 2005 20:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

On Board the Special Aircraft: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (May 10, 2005) said it was "incumbent" on all to ensure that institutions of democratic framework were respected and nothing was done to weaken the democratic fabric, a statement seen as a veiled criticism of the attack on the Election Commissioners by Railway Minister Laloo Prasad and a bureaucrat L V Saptarishi.

He also said "those within the institution" were also vested with the responsibility of maintaining its sanctity and preserving its autonomy.

The Election Commission is a Constitutional body, which played a "critical and positive" role in the successful functioning of democracy in the country, he said.

"It is incumbent on all to ensure that essential institutions of the democratic framework are respected, their sanctity maintained and their autonomy preserved in a manner which will ensure that they continue to contribute to our democratic life.

"This responsibility vests fully on those within the institution and those outside. It is in this perspective that all issues should be examined and nothing should be done which could lead to an unintended weakening of the democratic institutional fabric," he said in a statement read out to the journalists.

The Prime Minister said he had learnt from the media regarding the controversy generated by a letter regarding the conduct of the ECs in the last Lok Sabha elections. The Law Minister H R Bhardwaj, he pointed out, had gone on record that he had not received any such letter.

"It is important that the entire nation understands the importance of the Constitutional institutions like the Election Commission of their contribution to earning India the respect and admiration of the world.

Singh said since independence, the Election Commission has had an impeccable track record for conducting elections and was widely respected for its working.

"India is emerging on the global scenario as a confident, progressive and rapidly growing economy, which has managed to built multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious society within a democratic framework.

"It is this success of economic development and democratic governance which is being seen by many as a role model for the world," he said.