Murli Manohar Joshi warns against weakening institutions and overdeveloping Himalayas

Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi said India had lost its direction but could find its way back, arguing that democratic institutions must be grounded in trust, accountability and transparency. In an interview, Joshi said political parties and governments could change their policies over time, but that changes should not weaken their fundamental principles. He said he had not departed from the principles he held when he worked with leaders including Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K.

Advani. Joshi said every government wanted to remain in power, but argued that democracy worked best when elections were fair, governments were accountable and the bureaucracy was transparent. He also said the Opposition needed to be responsive and offer an alternative plan.

Discussing the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Joshi declined to comment on any individual or specific allegation. He said corruption had become deeply rooted and argued that responsibility for the temple trust rested with the government because the government formed the trust. He criticised development and tourism projects in the Himalayas, particularly around Badrinath, saying the region was ecologically fragile and had a distinctive religious character.

Joshi opposed what he described as excessive construction and questioned whether roads were being built wider than necessary. He said development should not be stopped but must be sustainable and take environmental concerns into account. He referred to damaged homes in Joshimath and expressed concern about the condition of water following the construction of the Tehri Dam.

On protests by young people, Joshi said authorities should address their grievances rather than suppress new voices. He attributed anger among Generation Z to unfulfilled aspirations, particularly promises of employment, and said governments should acknowledge when they had failed to deliver.