Dr. K. Veeramani, President, the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) addressed the viewers through zoom mode on Saturday, 20th April 2024, discussing the current political condition, ongoing Lok Sabha Election and the bounden duty of all the citizens, to save Democracy by bringing out a change of rule in the country.
His speech was as follows:-
Vanakkam. Already the first phase was over by yesterday (19th April 2024). Those who are yet to vote in the rest of the phases, should think deeply about all the challenges before us and save democracy.
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One long decade has passed in the rule of the BJP headed by Damodardas Narendra Modi. He seeks now another term. Every party has the right to seek another term once a term is over. Since he has been adorning the Government for a decade we have to analyse and see what his accountability is to the electorate. Has he earned the trust of the people? This is today a million dollar question! They should answer us. A decade of 10 years has been a remarkable term for them, indeed. Hence, they are justified in seeking another term. They certainly have the right. But the decade was only a façade – beautiful in outward appearance. What happened really all over the country is the moot point everybody has to ponder over, because this election is not only for this generation but for the welfare of posterity. This 18th Lok Sabha election in India assumes a more important role because unlike it was in other elections of the past, the fight is now not between two individuals, two candidates, two individual parties or even between two political alliances. It is really a fight between democracy and autocracy. I can call it a fight between two ideologies, as very rightly pointed out recently by our young and hopeful leaders Rahul Gandhi and our Dravidian Stalwart, Thiru. M.K. Stalin. They have charted out a route for change.
Infact, they were both instrumental in forming I.N.D.I.A. bloc as you are all aware. They had even rightly said that the fight is between Thanthai Periyar and the R.S.S., between social justice and the forces that want to do away with social justice.
To put it more politically and constitutionally, this electoral fight is really between those who revere the Constitution and those who are against the Constitution on which they took oath in the swearing-in ceremony. This Constitution of ours was given to us by the great revolutionary Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and members of the Constituent Assembly. They were all the founding fathers. Whether it would continue or would be replaced by Manusmriti is today our fear. You are all aware, for whom the Manusmriti exists. I need not explain. Our question is, what about the principle by which the Oath was taken by the Prime Minister Modi and his colleagues; the President and all upto the lowest rung of the Order – the President of a Panchayat.
Veneration to the Constitution!
When they took oath during the second term of the BJP rule, during the swearing-in ceremony, you might have all watched on the TV sets, when the name of our Prime Minister was called upon by the President, he took oath and prostated before a copy of the Constitution of India. Everybody was moved by his respect and veneration for it. It was believed, he was determined to adhere to it at all times, but how far has he so far adhered to it is our question. This is the time to raise that question again and again. This is the time for us to probe into Modi’s accountability and raise many more questions.
It is not merely an idea or an argument against them as opponents in the political field, but on the other side, it is the voice of scholars who wanted a change and form a new India. All those who crave for a change were dismally disappointed. Look at this book – ‘The crooked Timber of New India – Essays on a Republic crisis’ authored by an eminent political economistPrakala Prabhakar.
It is a book, I am sure, already read by erudite scholars and intellectuals. The entire book is a sane argument; not a vituperative exercise. It is indeed a sensible argument. He is the husband of a widely known personality in the political field but we are not concerned about it at all. We are interested only in his thoughts. He is an expert economist but not associated with any political party. How people like him and various foreign research scholars assess and evaluate the Prime Minister Modi is the most important point here. I urge upon you all to read it yourself and get a clear perspective of the BJP rule.
Here is another book – “Modi’s India : Hindu Nationalism and the Rise of Ethnic Democracy”, authored by a scholar Christophe Jeffrelot. He hails from France. He is a social activist and political research scholar. He is very popular in the international arena. He is associated with a London University. It is a well-documented book, indeed covering Modi’s life, his political world and much about his BJP rule. He has raised many thought provoking questions in this book, but there is so far no answer from those concerned with his queries.
To cite an example, the author says – “we want to save democracy, we are not here to replace someone with somebody else. We want to save India; its democracy and its Constitution.” He is quite right because our constitution is undeniably unique. It shows, documents, announces and proclaims how we are all democratic-oriented. We have shown the way for ideal rule to other countries. The preamble of our Constitution itself is unparalleled. There is no need to talk anything new about it because Indian democracy is the largest and the mightiest in the entire world.
Sovereignty with People
The unique character of the Constitution is the Preamble. Just see how wonderfully it starts with a clear adumbration —
“We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens…” etc;
These five elements are very important. There may be so many democracies, but all of them need not be republic. This is concerned with two aspects combined firmly. Our founding fathers have been very careful in framing it; particularly Dr. Ambedkar and his scholarly colleagues. Ambedkar used to ask – what for do we have Constitution? Is it merely for oath taking? Is it merely to quote occasionally? No! It is there to be followed, to be executed and to be implemented at all times.
Let us look at the latter part of the preamble that says – “to Constitute India” and “to secure to all its citizens” etc; — Note “all its citizens”. Whether they belong to North or South, majority or minority, east or west – that is immaterial; it does not discriminate. It insists on “justice – social, economic and political.”
Please note, social justice has been given top priority in the Constitution. Economic and Political Justice come later. We have to understand and appreciate the Constitution framers. All the three kinds of justice are different from each other. Absolute justice emerges only when all the three are aligned together.
The next important aspect is liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. Liberty with equality of status and opportunity are vital, indeed. It does not matter whether your position is high or low – they are to be promoted to everybody and entire fraternity, assuming the dignity of the individual, the nation and unity in general.
These are all the great characteristics of the Constitution that was adopted on the 26th day of November 1949. How many of us have really understood all the peculiar characteristics? I urge upon you all to go through the Preamble of the Constitution and certain vital segments that follow to realise how unique it is!
Let me ask you all dear friends, where does sovereignty actually lie in? The Constitution stresses it firmly. But where does it rest? Certainly not in the President of India, not in the Prime Minister, not in the Chief Ministers of States, not even in the Supreme Court of India! It lies in the people. That is more important. Hence the first sentence begins with – “We, the people…..”
We give all the assurances to all the people, but the question is whether they are all being followed and fulfilled even now. A long decade in democracy has passed. Let us analyse this moot point atleast now, since some more phases of the 18th Lok Sabha election is still there to be faced. Just one phase is over. Analyse carefully before you vote in one of the pending phases.
The Prime Minister and his Government get away with irrelevant information and white lies. The people raise questions about them. We are not quoting sundry politicians. You need not strain yourself to understand the plain lies of the BJP Government. They are all crystal clear. We, the people, neither get true information nor facts of their accountability. Election is the only occasion now to demand accountability of the decade long BJP rule. We are in a “now or never” stage at this crucial moment.
‘Guarantees’!
The Prime Minister Modi has already given plenty of ‘guarantees’ calling them “Modi Ki Guarantee”; such as “Sabka Saath – Sabka Vikas.” There is a shower of guarantees during this election period. We get a lot of jargons from the BJP! Instead of information and accountability they give us unbearable noise! The 10 year long rule of Modi’s BJP is nothing but “Jargon Juggernaut”! Deafening noise! He proudly says “I am running a Juggernaut.” You know what is really happening. Recall the noises – “Skill India”, “Make India”, “Make in India”, “Start Up India”, “Digital India”, “Smart Bharat”, “Smart Cities”, “bullet train”, “Sabka prayas”, “Sab Ka Vishwas”, “Har Gar Singar” – the list would be endless.
All these slogans are very pleasant to hear, but what is there actually in action? Nothing. All we have is nothing but strange jargons and baffling guarantees by the BJP rule. Our questions remain unanswered. People ask Modi – “What has happened to your assurances?” No answer from him. But the guarantees overflow in all the electoral meetings Modi keeps attending. Even today, we hear he has addressed in Bengaluru.
The Prime Minister Modi just wants to accuse the opposition without any basis. It is sheer uncharitable criticism that he is making. Whether he is within bounds or out of bounds in criticism is also immaterial for us. The electorate; those who voted for him in the past, have every right to firmly demand his accountability. Every one is asking him today, “How far have you fulfilled your promises?”
Joblessness & Unemployment:
Modi assured 2 crores of jobs to the youth every year. He should have offered at that rate, 20 crore jobs in all these 10 long years. Has he really done so? A false promise, indeed! It is a stale fact, however bitter it might be, that there are 30 lakhs of Union Government jobs lying vacant till this date. The youth of India now depends on I.N.D.I.A. bloc. If there is a change of rule in its favour, the alliance has promised to fill up all those vacancies and mitigate the unemployment problem. I am sure, at this juncture, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc is the only ray of hope for our youth.
The frustrated young men and women have prepared themselves to go even to the war-torn places like Gaza – Palestine, for their survival.
The Modi Government has pushed them to such a desperate State of mind inspite of decade long rule! Some of our young men migrated to Russia, seeking lucrative jobs but they were taken for a ride and forced to work in the army as helpers to guards. We read about their sufferings by the news flashed time and again in the print media. Though we have to verify them all to ascertain the extent of truth, we can say with certainty that joblessness is a very serious problem in the present BJP rule headed by the Prime Minister Modi. This is the sad state of affairs today. How are we going to revitalise the energy of our frustrated youth? This is a big challenge before us. We are told, still many young men of our country recruited in the army in Russia are being forced even to fight. We need a new dawn in their lives. Unless we put an end to the anti-people BJP rule, it would not be possible.
Rise of Prices:
Another burning problem in the present BJP rule is the spiralling cost of living and sky-rocketing price rise which is uncontrolled. What have all the assurances and guarantees of Modi done so far to bring down the price-hike? People believed in his false promises. He said that he would hunt and bring back all the black money concealed abroad by corporate giants. Has he done it? No. He said he would get their Swiss bank accounts frozen and all that blah-blah-blah! He promised welfare of women in rural belts. He assured Rs.15 lakh in the account of every citizen. Not even 15 rupees has been credited so far. And there is still a shower of such hood winking guarantees from Modi.
Our women folk were fervently hoping for relief. They thought, hereafter we need not bother about cooking gas and other such domestic problems. But what has happened? Modi has pulled wool over their eyes! Owing to the election fever there was just a mild reduction in the price of gas cylinders – like a drop of water in the ocean. It is needless to point out that over all prices of all essential commodities are the same as they were in 2014 when the BJP commenced its first term of rule, headed by Modi.
The cost of petrol and diesel has also spiralled alarmingly. The cost of crude oil is stated as an excuse. In fact, in the international market, the price of crude oil per barrel is on the decline. It has not reflected in the price index of our country. Hence the explanation of the BJP is unconvincing. What do all these fishy things mean?
PM CARES
Another moot point is transparency in Government. Modi assured it but we do not find even a little bit of transparency in any of its affairs. The “PM CARES” scheme is also an unsolved mystery. It was started as an exclusive trust. Everyone asks – “What is meant by “PM CARES ?” Who does Modi actually care for? All of us know that the Prime Minister actually cares only for the Ambanis, Adanis, Tatas and Birlas. The funds in this scheme remain undisclosed, immune to auditing by the government. The entire scheme is a mystery.
Modi has not started even one public sector unit in India. He has converted or leased out even the existing public sector projects as private sector units. There is absolutely no growth in production. Not even one big project has commenced. Even in Tamil Nadu, the BHEL and Neyveli Lignite Corporation are facing a bleak future owing to the maladministration of the BJP. Attempts are going on to convert almost all the public sector organisations into private sector units. To help Ambanis and Adanis flourish, the BJP Government takes laws in its hands and rules according to their whims and fancies. They want to amend acts, relax rules and go on imposing unwarranted schemes.
Disinvestment
Long ago when BJP came first to power, during the Prime Minister Vajpayee’s period, perhaps, these people openly declared that they are planning to establish a “Selling Department.” (Department of Disinvestment) It was puzzling. Atleast, to that extent their intellectual honesty should be appreciated in frankly announcing the inception of such a ridiculous ministry for “Disinvestment”. However, there is no such thing now, to our relief. There is only blind leasing out – 5 year leasing; 10 year lease etc; The BJP rule is bent upon steadily showering every favour in abundance upon Ambanis and Adanis. The common man is being taken for a ride.
Several research scholars have confirmed that 10% corporate giants are enjoying the entire wealth of the nation. The deprived 90% are people living below the poverty line on the lowest rung of the society. But our Prime Minister Modi keeps on saying that he was born to a very poor mother. It may be a fact. We do sympathise with him. But what about all the mothers in India? Millions of poor mothers around us. They are not from rich families like those of the Ambanis and Adanis. Who is there to sympathise with them?
Recently, for an event just before the wedding of Mukesh Ambani’s son in Gujarat, several crores were spent lavishly. It was a pompous, expensive show just for one marriage in the country. The Prime Minister was kind enough to make special arrangements at the airport to receive Adani’s guests and Ambani’s own V.I.P. guests. They went to the extent of amending Airport rules and regulations. An unbelievable hospitality was extended to the invitees. This is India today under BJP rule. Multimillionaires and Corporate giants are flourishing. The common public exists duped in all respects. It is a Raj of the business magnates – not of the people.
Coming to the vital ideal of Social Justice, it has been given top priority in the Constitution. All these people swore on it and took oaths but later ignored it. Periyar took steps for the first amendment in the Constitution and got importance for its due adumbration. In fact, today our Tamil Nadu is a land of social justice; a great land born of the Justice Party. This land has been the beacon light for other States as far as social justice is concerned. We adopted it in a fruitful way and paved the way for educational and employment opportunities to the depressed, oppressed and the downtrodden people. Millions of women have benefitted by our principle of social justice.
In the BJP rule headed by Modi, 10 per cent reservation (EWS) has been granted to the upper caste poor people without even their asking for it. (Their share in the total population is only 15%). They are already over represented. The Backward Classes are 52 per cent of the population, but only 27 per cent reservation is granted for them. Is it not an instance of social injustice?
During the first term of Modi’s rule there was not even one backward class minister, during the entire five year period 2014 to 2019. There was no Muslim representative. Of course, one was there who was later sent out.
Let us look at the pitiable condition of democracy. Democracy actually means ‘Power Sharing’. But we have almost a totalitarian Government which tries to stifle the powers of the States. Honourable V.P. Singh, one of the former Prime Ministers, was indeed a Saviour of Social Justice. He was responsible for the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations. After him, we find only social injustice in India.
Even among the poor people, Modi has made a strange division – the poor people from the upper caste, who are only 15 per cent of the population. He wants to extend some kind of special concessions to them in educational and employment opportunities. We find strange divisions and partial treatments. Was it the original intention of the founding fathers of the Constitution? Certainly not!
The 2024 Election manifesto of the BJP was released with a lot of guarantees. Two words – “Social Justice” cannot be found in this large book. You can’t find “Social Justice” in their manifesto, even if you look for those words using a microscope. My question to the BJP is this – “Have you thrown overboard the ideal of Social Justice? Why is it that there is nothing about it in your grand manifesto? Will they answer me? It is clear, they are against social justice. Most of the Upper Caste people are confident of getting employment in the rule headed by Modi. You can understand easily what makes them so confident.
I was a student of Economics when I was young. I know much about the process of demonetisation etc; Suddenly one night Modi announced demonetisation of 500 rupee currency note and 1000 rupee currency note. Those currency notes went out of circulation. Later, he introduced 2000 rupee notes. Did he continue with it? Within 3 years, it was withdrawn and went out of circulation. There was no consistency; no transparency. These decisions were all taken without formal discussions. The Ex-Governors of the RBI severely criticised these demonetisations. The fall of rupee was another blow on us. How far have we been successful in our economic policies? This is our question. Besides, joblessness has become a burning problem.
‘Road – Shows’
Recent “Road-Shows” are another political gimmick. Modi held a road show recently all over Theagaraya Nagar in Chennai. Most of the streets were deserted. Shops were closed. Life almost came to a standstill in the prime areas. Only chosen few were allowed to walk along with Modi – none of the common public.
I would like to recall at this moment another historic “road-walk” of our people during COVID-19 pandemic period that shook the world. Poor people suffered due to horrible dislocation. Poor labourers migrated from one State to another for their livelihood. No conveyance facility was arranged for the migrating labourers and their families. Ms.Sonia Gandhi, who was then the Congress President requested to provide with Special trains for the migrant poor and assured that the Congress would bear the expenses incurred by the Railways. But the Modi Government did not comply with her request. Thousands of people walked for miles together. Many died on their way. Most of them walked on the railways tracks and lost their lives. That was a great ‘road-walk’ and ‘road-show’, the BJP Government should be proud of! The poorly planned lock down during COVID-19 period also turned disastrous.
The BJP rule contributed a new word to our political dictionary – “lynching” – a mob taking law in their hands and killing people enmasse brutally.
“Cow-Vigilante” is another new term in the political dictionary of the BJP. It meant protection of Cows from Slaughter. There was no “Vigilante” for the suffering human beings. Meat eating prevention was on the top of their agenda.
Gender Justice:
Gender justice too became a mockery in the BJP rule. Women were tortured in Manipur. Modi keeps saying – “Mera Parivar”, “Modi ka Parivar” to mean 140 Crore People of India are his family. We are happy about it. We need only such a Prime Minister. But did he mean what he said? He never visited Manipur to console those women or even to enquire about their present State? Let us hope, after 4th June 2024, we would get through the people’s alliance, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, the Prime Minister who would always say what he means and always mean what he says. Let us all expect a new dawn in the life of every citizen.
When questions were raised in the Parliament about the indifference of Modi towards Manipur tragedy, no explanation was given. 146 members were suspended for all the sessions. Democracy consists of four pillars – executive, legislature, judiciary and the Print Media. But in the BJP rule, Democracy has always been caricatured and mocked at. You might have observed, no deputy speaker was elected for the period of five long years.
Electoral Bond:
Modi promised to uproot corruption but has not done it so far. The recent issue of electoral bond donations is enough to judge the misrule of Modi. The BJP Government was castigated, censured and warned by the Supreme Court to come out with all the facts but the entire electoral bond scheme is still shrouded in mystery. It is like the opening of the “Pandora’s Box” in mythology – the evil coming out freely.
Ideological dictatorship:
From the electoral bond donations, BJP has got the lion’s share as per evident records. Recently ‘Frontline’ English fortnightly published a well-documented article by Paranjoi Guha Takurtha and Abirdas Gupta. This significant article explains how a verdict reversed a totalitarian scheme. The research scholars say that the electoral bond scheme was for the election purpose and collection of donations only on the surface level, but at a deeper level, the real motive of the BJP was to form a perpetual totalitarian Government of absolute ideological dictatorship. I urge upon you all to read this particular article of ‘Frontline’ attentively and understand the concealed facts. BJP’s very idea is in the Sangh Parivar Scheme of things. BJP means to say that – “it is inconceivable for any committed individual or Association or Company, to not to contribute to the national project, whether monetarily or otherwise. It is every one’s civic, national duty.” It is clear dear friends, the electoral bond scheme is not only to win the election, but also to perpetuate the totalitarian state. The electoral bond was nothing but a political instrument.
People who have criminal charges against them have been supported by the BJP and allowed to contest elections. The outward appearance of the BJP is deceptive in all respect. There is a clear dichotomy in the speeches of the entire BJP coterie. They have got some diametrical dubious notes of their approach in annihilating the scandals and all the charges. Obviously, a double-tongued approach is clearly found. The BJP has been strategically planning to form a new concept of policy.
Dravidian Model Rule
Our Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Dravidian Model rule, has already shown the way and opened the door by stressing that it is most important to decide who should not grab the rule. Differences are common everywhere but our collective efforts would bring about a change of rule after 4th June 2024.
‘ICU’
There is no personal vendetta or a personal fight. Our fight is to save democracy which is already in the Intensive Care Unit (I.C.U.). People are not willing to be deceived any longer. They have reached the saturation point.
Our Constitution should be saved. Social Justice should be saved. We are now in a “now or never” stage. I urge upon you all to patronise I.N.D.I.A. bloc to achieve our objective. This is the golden opportunity for all of us to redeem India. We have suffered a lot. We cannot tolerate any more.
‘Bunch of Thoughts’
The BJP is bent upon their “One Nation – One Election” concept, their purpose must be defeated. Their political philosophy has sprung from M.S. Golwalkar’s book “Bunch of Thoughts” which has been the guide for the R.S.S; the Sangh Parivar, the BJP and the Prime Minister Modi. They are bent upon replacing the Constitution with Manusmriti. We should never allow that to happen. They are trying to frame charges against the founding fathers of our Constitution. We should never allow that to happen. They are trying to frame charges against the founding fathers of our Constitution. We should safeguard our federal structure by getting rid of the anti-people BJP rule. They do not want any State Election in Vogue. They do not want any State to exist; even any state party to exist. Dear friends, the entire book – “Bunch of Thoughts” by M.S. Golwalkar shows the true Portrait of the party backed by the R.S.S. Read it and get a clear perspective of the entire decade long rule of the BJP.
We are worried about the future generation. The last nail is about to be driven on the coffin where Democracy rests. We must prevent it and bring it back to life by our will power. It is said – in times of war, the first casualty is “Truth”. We are now amidst an electoral war. We shall not allow “Truth” to perish in this electoral war. For the sake of our future, save democracy. I believe, the only way is to support I.N.D.I.A. bloc. Let us all save democracy from the worst crisis. By our wise and collective efforts, this is certainly possible.
Thank you very much for your attentive listening.
