By IANS,
Kolkata : Terming the federal structure as one of the basic pillars of the Indian constitution, President Pranab Mukherjee Friday said such a structure can never become strong until there is overall development of the states.
“In the 1970s we witnessed change of governments in various countries. In place of democracy, either dictatorship or military junta took over the reins of those countries. But India, irrespective of its various weaknesses, has protected democracy,” Mukherjee said.
“It had happened not because of some political leaders but because of the people of India. The Indian democracy is so strong because of the people of this country,” he said.
“Federal structure is one of the basic structures of the Constitution. If the state doesn’t have an overall development, then the federation can never become strong,” Mukherjee said.
He was speaking at a civic reception by the state government and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.
Mukherjee began a four-day official visit to his home state West Bengal starting Friday, his first after assuming the nation’s highest post.