“While bringing about reforms and improving institutions, we have to be cautious that while shaking the tree to remove the bad fruit, we do not bring down the tree itself,” she said in her address to the nation on the eve of the 63rd Republic Day.

The President’s remarks were seen in the context of Anna Hazare and the anti-corruption movement that he led, though she did not specifically mention the social activist.

She said India can take pride in its democratic record but as in any functional democracy, it faces pressures and challenges. “All issues, therefore, must be resolved through dialogue and there can be no place for violence. Negativity and rejection cannot be the path for a vibrant country that is moving to seek its destiny,” she said, asserting that long term goals should not be lost sight of and everyone must work together on a core national agenda.

The President emphasised that those sharing the conviction in democracy must try to see the rationale in the others’ point of view, adding that concord and not discord is the way forward for a country as large as India. She conceded that the country’s institutions may not be flawless but they have coped with many challenges.

“The Constitution has been and should be the compass guiding in nation-building. It is the charter of our democracy. It is the document guaranteeing individual freedoms to its citizens. It is the basis on which institutions of the state have been created and have derived their powers and functions,” she said.

The President expressed the hope that in the spirit of national interest, matters of national importance are discussed and solutions found between different stakeholders. This would strengthen the roots of our democracy and the foundations of our nation. “Often, we are quick to find blame with others; but, yet are unable to give constructive responses. There seems to be a tendency to doubt almost everything. Do we not have faith in our own people’s strengths and in our institutions? Can we afford distrust amongst ourselves?,” she said.