Opposition takes on BJP govt for not checking 'divisive forces'

Opposition members in Rajya Sabha on Friday attacked the government for not checking divisive forces and expressed concern over issues like intolerance, the status of backward sections and weakening federalism.  Participating in the debate on commitment to the Constitution, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (AITC) said there was need to introspect how much the spirit of the Constitution has been implemented in matters relating to equality, justice and liberty. Introspection was required at a time when the country's President was talking about maintaining tolerance and intellectuals returning awards in protest against growing intolerance in the country, he said.
"Are we serving the country based on the Constitution. We are encouraging divisive forces. This is pathetic situation," the TMC member said.

Expressing concern over the status of scheduled castes and tribes, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav said the situation was such that even MPs of these parties find it difficult to voice their opinion because of pressures of the party system. Yadav said the country cannot progress if all sections do not progress and added that even within various political parties, "dalits cannot find their voice". He said at the time of formulation of the constitutional system, there had been a demand that dalits should get a separate electorate but that did not happen. Dalits and tribals were not finding adequate place in higher position in government jobs, Yadav said, adding there had only been one dalit secretary and there was hardly a chance that one would become a Cabinet secretary

To this, union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi stood up and said though he was not opposing Yadav, but as per details there had been around four secretaries in the present government. A Navneethakrishnan (AIADMK) said it is fitting that November 26 has been declared as Constitution Day and spoke of various provisions for disadvantaged groups. He also spoke about the importance of federalism, while expressing concern on the matter relating to the proposed GST Bill and sought more weightage for states in decision making under GST. Navneethakrishnan also spoke in favour of allowing Tamil language in courts in his state. 

Continuing the discussion, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) wondered why the government was observing November 25 as Constitution Day when the Constitution came into operation on January 26, 1950. Without naming BJP, he said the party members had no role in the national freedom movement. "What is this new item...You want to worm into the national movement...," said Yechury. Referring to statements like Lord Ganesh was "an example of plastic surgery" and birth of Karna was "stent technology", he said such statments had come from the Prime Minister himself. "You are only reviving hard core Hindutva agenda," Yechury said.

Referring to the "lampooning" of Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, he said Ambedkar did not leave the country, but renounced Hinduism and embraced Buddhism. The CPI(M) leader said if he was standing against intolerance, he was doing exactly what Ambedkar had wanted the countrymen to do. Taking a dig at the BJP, he said its governments in Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat had curtailed voting rights, the most important right given by the Constitution by bringing new rules to govern local elections.

He also quoted from a book 'We or Our Nationhood Defined' written by M S Golwalkar, the second Sarsanghchalak of RSS, to take a dig on BJP over intolerance. Reading out excerpts from it, Yechury said to maintain the purity of race and its culture, Germany had "shocked the world by purging the country of the Semitic races the Jews." He said Golwalkar wrote that "Germany has also shown how well-nigh impossible it is for races and cultures, having differences going to the root, to be assimilated into one united whole, a good lesson for us in Hindusthan to learn and profit by." Karan Singh (Cong) said that people were not aware of the fundamental duties outlined in the Constitution and emphasised that efforts should be made to create awareness about them and suggested that copies of these should be hung in schools, offices and panchayats.  Singh said the definition of 'socialism and securalism' that was kept in mind while including them as part of preamble of the Constitution was "may everyone be happy, may everyone be healthy and may everyone see auspicious site and may no one undergo suffering".

As far as securalism was concerned, he said the definition that was followed was "everyone should give equal respect and regard for all religion". The Congress leader also said he was surprised that Jaitley did not mention Jawaharlal Nehru who had moved an objective resolution of the Constitution, which later became part of the preamble. While recalling contribution of leaders like Maulana Azad and Rajendra Prasad, Singh said one should not forget the role that B N Rao and Radhakrishan Swamy Iyer in drafting the Constitution.