Saturday, September 3 2005 13:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Sept3, 2005) said persons getting elected to August institutions of democracy had an obligation to ensure that they renewed people's faith in our democratic institutions.

"We owe it to our posterity to conduct ourselves in a manner that is worthy of our people, our freedom fighters, constitution and the republic," he said speaking after unveiling the statue of national leaders inside the assembly complex in Thiruvananthapuram.

Quoting B R Ambedkar, he said cultivation of constitutional morality among the people was indispensable for the successful operation of democracy. "There is no point in constructing fine buildings that are pleasing to the eye, if proceedings within are hardly pleasing to the ear," he said.

The Prime Minister said the culture of accommodation, give-and-take, inclusiveness and cosmopolitanism was what inspired leaders of the national movement to fight for an India that belonged to all Indians.

"The foundation of our democracy is built on the ancient Indian idea of `Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and every leader of the national movement was wedded to the ideal of an inclusive, secular India," he said and urged people to renew their commitment to these ideals.

Describing Kerala as a fine example of humane economic development, he said the state's commitment to education, social justice, and empowerment of women, workers and farmers stood out for the entire country to follow.

The challenge before the state now was to augment its industrial and agricultural growth to supplement and sustain the high human development indices of which the state could justly be proud, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said tradition of tolerance for a multi-cultural and multi-religious society seen in Kerala was what the national leaders wanted to establish all over the country.

"That every Malayali, irrespective of religion and creed, shares common cultural bonds through music, dance, cuisine and language is an inspiring example of unity in diversity," he said, adding this had fostered a culture of tolerance that symbolized the idea of India.

Singh, who unveiled the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and B R Ambedkar outside the assembly building, said the premises would now become part of our national heritage, as the three leaders were the architects of our nation.

He said in Kerala, Adi Sankara's philosophy co-existed harmoniously with the ideals of Islam and Christianity. For centuries, Keralites prayed to different Gods, but their `unity in diversity' had truly made this `God's own country,' he said

Singh felicitated 15 MLAs who had completed 25 years of service in the House.

Governor R L Bhatia, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, former Chief Minister A K Antony, CPI-M parliamentary party secretary Thomas Issac and Speaker Therambil Ramakrishnan also spoke.

The Prime Minister also planted a sapling in the assembly premises and joined the members of the assembly for a photo session.