NEW DELHI, India, July 25, Reuter: Ramaswamy Venkataraman was sworn in as India’s eighth President today and immediately hinted he wanted an €end to friction between the Presidency and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Taking over from the outgoing Zail Singh, who repeatedly crossed swords with Gandhi, VenkataTaman said he would try tohaltan “erosion of confidence” damaging institutions and relationships in India.
“We cannot afford to waste time, energy or materials on internecine quarrels”, the 76yearold incoming President said in a somber inaugural speech watched by Gandhi and Singh and a packed audience in Parliament’s woodpanelled central hall.
Venkataraman, Vice-president during Singh’s five-year term, was elected President this month with Gandhi’s support. He has made clear he disapproves of Singh’s political involvement in the post.
The President of India is Chief of State and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces but under the constitution has no direct role in politics or the government of the country.
Singh, a colorful and controversial figure as India’s first Sikh President, sported his customary red rose, snappy white turban, tunic and tight pants as he bowed out of office and a 21gun salute greeted his successor.
Venkataraman’s first action after being sworn in by Chief Justice S.S. Pathak and wiping away tears was to deliver an apparent snub to the departing Singh.
Calling him a “Shining Star” of the independence struggle 40 years ago Venkataraman then pointedly omitted him from a list of “Eminent Presidents” whose example he hoped to follow. In another apparent dig he promised not to “stray beyond the powers” the Constitution gave him. In recent months Singh has challenged the government by refusing to signal bill allowing authorities to open mail. He also consulted lawyers on the possibility of dismissing Gandhi or authorizing his prosecution over alleged kickbacks in major arms deals.
Singh accused Gandhi of not briefing him on important matters and said he lied to Parliament by saying he had done so.
In another bitter statement last week Singh said Gandhi was “immature” and his reputation “in the mud”.
In a final flourish on Friday he demanded and got the resignation of a Cabinet Minister loyal to Gandhi who had accused him of sedition and supporting Sikh freedom fighters.
Venkataraman avoided mentioning the Gandhi Singh row in his speech but its sombre tone matched an air of gathering crisis in the country.
He warned of the dangers to India’s peace, freedom and democracy from frequent communal violence among Hindus, Moslems and Sikhs and from language disputes which sometimes cause bloodshed between India’s different peoples.
Venkataraman painted a grim picture of his country’s condition.
“Communal violence splinters the ground that we walk on, religion and language is used as instruments of disruption. Antisocial elements try to destroy the fruits of freedom.
“Too many institutions and relationships have suffered an erosion of confidence. This cannot but have disastrous consequences…”
“It will be my constant endeavor to play my due role in clearing mistrust, in strengthening the foundations of mutual understanding and confidence between people and institutions,” Venkaratraman declared.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 31, 1987
