Citing "poor governance" as a major stumbling block in country's progress, a group of former bureaucrats today appealed people to cast votes with care to choose a government that takes the country on path of rapid development.
"India is seen as a soft state allowing corruption, violence and mal-administration to thrive. After decades, major unresolved issues relating to poverty, illiteracy, poor health persist," they said.
"The feeling is growing that if the present trends continue, these could lead to social disorder, and even serious threat to democracy...
"We urge the citizens to exercise their valuable votes with care, to elect a government which will lead us to a new path of rapid development," said the appeal issued by former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian and Ex-CAG Vinod Rai among others.
India, by now, should have been one of the leading countries of the world, with its vast human potential and resources; however, poor governance is holding us back, they said.
The upcoming elections provide an opportunity for an alternative approach to development to the people of India, the appeal said.
"The nation needs a strong, able leadership to deal with the challenges facing our polity...
"It is essential that we all facilitate a stable government and bring in leadership with experience, the appeal said urging the citizens to vote wisely," it said.
The group included T S Krishnamurthy, former Chief Election Commissioner, Ved Prakash Marwah, former Governor of Manipur, Mizoram and Jharkhand, senior Supreme Court advocates Fali S Nariman and Soli Sorabjee.
It included Prakash Singh, Former Director General Police E A S Sarma, Former Revenue Secretary, S C Tripathi, Former Secretary HRD and Petroleum, and business leaders Mohandas Pai and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw among others.
