Addressing a ``meet the media'' programme at the Press Club of India, Jethmalani said that although the Indian Constitution was one of the best documents ever produced in the history of the world, it was good to keep assessing it from time to time.

According to Jethmalani, there were at least three constitutional issues - powers of the executive and the judiciary, the use of Article 356 and the policy of reservation - which needed to be reassessed and suitable amendments made.

The Minister demanded the appointment of a national judicial commission with representatives from the Government, Opposition, academic world and the judiciary to have a look at the powers of the executive and the judiciary.

On the misuse of Article 356 of the Constitution, Jethmalani wondered why Opposition parties were voicing their demand forits repeal when they themselves had misused it when they were in power.

``You must give credit to this government which has not misused Article 356 even at the cost of jeopardising its own survival,'' he said, in an obvious reference to the AIADMK's threat to withdraw support to the Government if its demand for the dismissal of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu was not met.

Jethmalani defended the Government's decision to send Home Ministry officials to Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Bihar to study the law and order situation, which is a state subject. ``I don't see anything wrong in sending Central teams to the State. The Centre must keep itself informed about the law and order situation in States, under the provisions of the Constitution.''

On the reported decision by the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to build a Ram temple at Ayodhya regardless of the Supreme Court verdict, the Minister admitted that it was a cause for alarm and concern but felt that ``harsh words break nobones''.

``People often talk but don't do what they say. The Government has given its absolute commitment in Parliament that it would abide by the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya case and there was no change in this stance,'' he said.

Asked to comment on the rapid criminalisation of politics, Jethmalani admitted that honest politicians had become a rare and vanishing commodity.

He attacked Opposition parties for not playing their role of rational criticism and scrutiny of the government. ``In a democracy, the role of the Opposition is more important than that of the ruling party. Unfortunately, the Opposition did not realise its responsibility and in its hot pursuit for power, was trying to act as a demolition squad,'' he said.