Security top concern for country: Advani

BJP leader L K Advani today termed security as the top concern for the country while stressing that education and health care are also important dimensions of good governance.
Unfurling the national flag at his residence here, the former deputy Prime Minister praised the Republic Day parade that showcased heavy weapons in the beginning which, he said, is a good idea.
"Heavy arms were exhibited in the beginning. It used to be shown in the later stage earlier. It's a good thing. If the country needs to worry most about one thing, then it is security.
"For good governance, education and health care are also important but nobody can deny the importance of security," he told reporters.

Party leader Arun Jaitley, in a statement, stressed that the quality of politics in India needs to improve, saying the stature of people who man politics must be in "consonance" with the huge power that politicians wield.
"The declining quality of politics reflects itself on issues of governance...If India can grow at nine per cent on average in bad governance, what will be the growth rate if the quality of politics and governance improve?," he said.

The leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha underlined the importance of poverty eradication and challenges from terrorism and insurgency to the country while noting that India needs to become a more humane and compassionate society.

"Increased offences against women and the brutality of those offences is a scar on our society...The concern for women and the under-privileged must be reflected in our attitude," he said.
Poverty, Jaitley said, continues to be the greatest curse on Indian society.
Nearly 30 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line and the poor is denied the right to live with dignity, he said.