Congress Party only can save Constitution and Democracy in India
- Manish Kantiwal
-The Asian Independent UK- Indian National Congress (INC) is the oldest political party in India. After partition in 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of an independent India. Jawaharlal Nehru along with other stalwarts of Indian National Congress built the nation from scratch while fighting the menace of partition.
History is witnessed that Gandhi family lost two stalwarts’ leaders (Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi – as Prime Minister of India) who laid their lives for the nation. Under their charismatic leadership, Indian democracy and constitution was preserved and the principle of unity of diversity was upheld.
In the world, Indian democracy is known as the mother of democracy. All religions and castes are equally respected; every citizen irrespective of caste, creed or sex can propagate and profess any faith in India. There was hardly polarization in the name of religion. Important institutions such as Indian foreign services, planning commission, Atomic Energy Commission, Union Public Service Commission and many more were built up under charismatic leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru. Jawaharlal Nehru was enchanted by dams, which he called ‘the temples of modern India’. In 1954, Bhakra- Nangal project was inaugurated by Nehru. Nehru had been fascinated by modern science. “Science is the spirit of the age and the dominating factor of modern India”, he wrote.
Opposition parties including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were permitted without any political vendetta to air their views. From Jawaharlal Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi, the leaders of opposition parties inside or outside the parliament of India were not penalized. The constructive views of leaders of opposition parties were always welcome to add more value to upholding democracy and the constitution of India.
The constitution of India drafted by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the chief architect, was implemented on 26th January, 1950. The preamble of Indian Constitution secures Justice, Equality, Liberty and Fraternity for all citizens. The leaders of Indian National Congress strongly believe in the Indian constitution.
The rule of law was given top priority so as not to punish anyone unless or until proven guilty. Inflation was under control. Employment avenues in government Ministries and departments meant primarily to support socially and economically marginalized communities were open. Jawaharlal Nehru was also appreciative of the linguistic diversity of India. In an essay of 1937, he wrote that ‘a living language is a vital thing, ever changing, ever growing and mirroring the people who speak and write it’. And ‘our great provincial languages are no dialectics or vernaculars, as the ignorant sometimes call theme. They are ancient languages with a rich inheritance, each spoken by many millions of people, each tied up inextricably with the life and culture and ideas of the masses as well as the upper classes. It is axiomatic that the masses can only grow educationally and culturally through the medium of their own languages[1].
Fifth five-year Plan of India (1974-1979) was formulated by Indira Gandhi. It focused on agriculture, poverty alleviation, employment generation. Rajiv Gandhi (1984-1989) as Prime Minister introduced computers in India that unleashed digital technology. India could compete with the global market. Dr. Manmohan Singh (2004-2014),Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 or MGNREGA, earlier known as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or NREGA, is an Indian social welfare measure that aims to guarantee the ‘right to work‘. This act was passed on 23 August 2005 and was implemented in February 2006 under the UPA government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. MGNREGA brought a big financial relief and employment opportunity in rural areas of India especially in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and many other backward states.
Foreign policy towards friends and foes were highly respected under Prime Ministers from the Gandhi family. Countries particularly from South Asia enjoyed cordial and fruitful bilateral relations. Nehru played soft diplomacy with China. From Jawaharlal Nehru to Dr Manmohan Singh, diplomacy at the global level was well orchestrated and well played. Many of the world leaders appreciated foreign policies of India. Global trade with India multiplied and there was no pressure, political or financial, on the Indian government to accept conditions on trade or commerce. Various governments under the Gandhi family enjoyed freedom to do all kinds of trade or commerce. There was no pick and choose tactics to suit political interests.
At the state level, the chief ministers particularly supervised the implementation of welfare schemes meant for socially and economically marginalized communities. Under Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in her first term of the government started off with just an 8-km track of metro that changed the way Delhi travels. The National Capital got impetus in infrastructure development. Bridges, metro lines spread throughout the national capital and the credit goes to CM Sheila Dikshit. There are a large number of achievements of the Indian National Congress party which shows results on the ground, not empty rhetoric.
Indian politics after 2014
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power at the center in 2104 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi backed by RSS. It is a fact that PM Narendra Modi brought 15 years of experience from Gujarat as Chief minister but he could not understand the nitty -gritty of the central government which deals not only with the Indian states but also with foreign countries. There are umpteen number of media reports that claim that Indian politics of vendetta has destroyed the social, political fabric of Indian society being played by the BJP/RSS combine. The polarization on the basis of religion and caste has ruined the ideals of liberty and fraternity. Burning and bulldozing off Mosques and Churches in India has destroyed the image of India in the world. The divisive politics has further created distrust between Hindus and Muslims. The negative effect of such divisive politics on the basis of religion can be seen in Muslim countries such as Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh. Hindus are persecuted as backlash. The implementation of CAA by the Modi government has sown the seeds of hatred between Hindus and Muslims. The curtailment in university grants, stipends and scholarships meant for the socially and economically students has shattered their dreams. The inordinate delays in payment to MGNERGA workers have disheartened them. The same case is with the Asha workers. Their livelihood is badly affected.
The BJP leaders have spoken that if BJP comes to power in 2024 it would change the constitution of India. If that happens it would prove disastrous for the whole country. Political pundits say that if a country is run purely based on religion it is likely to doom. Pakistan is a recent example.
Under the BJP government, several government institutions are sold or closed down. The frauds in private and national banks are increasing day by day. Media reports claim that the Modi government has borrowed a large sum of loans from the IMF. Crony capitalism is being promoted. The gap between have and have -nots is increasing day by day as a result the country is heading towards civil war.
The unemployed youths are seeking jobs in war conflict zones such as Israel or Libya. It shows that the state governments under the BJP are not able to provide jobs to the unemployed youths. Reports from the field surveys indicate that the unhappiness among the unemployed youths is rising. The parents of unemployed youths are facing societal ignominy. Unemployed youths are postponing marriage because of lack of financial security to lead a sustained and happy life.
In 10 years, rule of the BJP, the social and economic fabric is wrecked. The social disharmony is fragmented. The perpetrators of arson and loot are rewarded by the BJP. The RSS has controlled all government ministries and departments. The candidates seeking government employment are brazenly selected on the recommendations of the RSS. The trust between Hindu and Muslims is shattered. Members of both communities feel alienated from each other. Business people from both communities are afraid of conducting businesses due to lack of trust. Such a dangerous situation would further disintegrate the country.
Now the time has come to vote for the Congress Party so that it can form government in the center. Rahul Gandhi has toured the whole of the country under “Bharat Jodo NyayYatra” and the response is overwhelming. Those who met Rahul Gandhi appreciated his efforts to integrate the country. A large number of people asked Rahul Gandhi to save the country from the divisive politics of BJP/RSS.
If the people of India fail this time, 2024 Lok Sabha elections could be the last election therefore all the wise citizens of India who believe that India should restore democracy and save the constitution of India should come forward to vote for congress party. Selfless and dedicated leaders of the Indian National Congress Party can bring happiness on gloomy faces of unemployed youths by providing jobs. The leaders of the Indian National Congress can re-establish harmony among Hindus and Muslims and restore social harmony in Indian society. It is the Indian National Congress Party which can re -launch poverty alleviation programmes for the welfare of the poor. Remember, the Congress Party can only save the constitution and democracy in India.
- Manish Kantiwal is a congress leader. He is a social worker. The views expressed in this article are personal.
[1] Ramachandra Guha, India After Gandhi: The history of the World`s largest Democracy, Picador India, p. 181.
