NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday that the last 15 years of coalition governance at the Centre stood testimony to the fact that Indian democracy had matured and political stability was not dependent on single-party rule. Addressing the Jagran Forum 2005 on `Democracy, Development and Social Inclusion,' he attributed the success of democracy to the broad consensus across the political spectrum on major issues.

Institutional mechanisms

According to Mr. Mukherjee, democracy in the country drew its strength from the institutional mechanisms that had been put in place by the founding fathers of independent India. Having said this, he admitted that more needed to be done to ensure social inclusion. It was to empower the people that the United Progressive Alliance Government had introduced the Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) and the Right to Information Act, he said.

Going back in history, Mr. Mukherjee said the Rajiv Gandhi Government had strengthened the existing system by making it more representative through Panchayati Raj institutions. Recognising the need for greater participation of the people in governance, he said, the former Prime Minister had piloted the Panchayati Raj Act.

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