‘Public opinion critical for democracy’

Public opinion is critical for democracy, according to Nirmala Sitharaman, spokesperson of BJP.

She said this while speaking on the topic ‘Does India need good politicians or good political parties?’ at the Leadership Lecture series of T.A. Pai Management Institute at Manipal on Monday.

Highlighting the role of public opinion, she said it plays important role in decision making.

However, it is required to assess the position of the opinion.

The speaker said that a good politician contributes to his/her political party that results in nation-building. Like every other country, India needs good politicians and good political parties, she said.

Students wanted to know if the political system was at fault or if it provided any valuable contribution to the country.

There is a general perception prevalent that the political system, politicians and the political parties have failed, they said. To this, Nirmala Sitharaman said that it was a collective failure of all three and no one factor could be singled out.

She said that political parties were answerable to the public.

But regardless of whatever stand political parties take, there is always unavoidable criticism associated with them.

Ramdas M. Pai, Chancellor of Manipal University, presided over the function. K. Ramnarayan, Vice-Chancellor of the university, and R.C. Natarajan, Director of T.A. Pai Management Institute, spoke on the occasion.

>vinayak.aj@thehindu.co.in

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