Jairam Ramesh with others during a press conference held at the Congress Bhavan, Kohima on April 10. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | April 10
The upcoming 2024 election is seen as a decisive moment to save democracy and protect the Constitution of India according to General Secretary in-charge of Communications, All India Congress Committee (AICC), Jairam Ramesh.
Addressing a press conference today at the Congress Bhavan, Kohima, he said there is an erosion of democratic values which needs to be safeguarded and asserted on the crucial need to safeguard democracy, which he said, is ‘under threat.’
“Democracy doesn’t mean silencing the voices of the people but this is what is happening in states after states,” he maintained.
What is more important today, according to AICC functionary, is not just freedom of speech but ‘freedom after speech’ as currently individuals face legal repercussions and restrictions on their fundamental rights.
While democracy thrives on having a strong opposition, he noted in Nagaland everyone has joined NDPP, masterminded’ by the BJP, and the only party fighting the party is the Congress.
Freedom from ‘bluff and rule’
Alleging Prime Minister, Narendra Modi of following the policy of not just divide and rule but ‘bluff and rule’ for the last 10 years, Ramesh stated, ‘We (India) have gone through divide and rule (from the British rule) to bluff and rule now.’
Citing instances of the signing of agreements in 2015, 2017 and 2023 with different sets of groups of which the details remained unknown, he remarked, “Every time he (Modi) made promises, he would say it’s a game changer, it’s a permanent settlement to the problems of Nagaland.”
“We don’t know the details. All we know is different people have been bluffed by Modi” added Ramesh accusing the BJP government of deploying the tactic of deceiving and manipulating the public.
Protection of diversity of India
The General Secretary in-charge also accused the BJP-RSS agenda and ideology of promoting “one nation, on election; one nation, one tax; one nation, one party; one nation, one leader; one nation, one religion; one nation, one language and one nation, one food.”
He alleged that the BJP-RSS agenda is to destroy the rich diversity of India – religious, linguistic, ethnic, regional, food and dress adding that the recent events in Manipur highlighted the danger of targeting individuals based on their religion, necessitating the protection of India's diversity at all cost.
Protection of Article 371(A)
After the removal of Article 370, which provided special provisions for Jammu and Kashmir, Ramesh said there is the potential for removal of Article 371(A) that grants special provisions to Nagaland.
“A government that has removed Art 370 will remove Art 371 (A) where the ownership of land and its resources will go from Nagaland Assembly to Parliament of India,” Ramesh cautioned. He also emphasised on the crucial need to safeguard the ownership of land and its resources, Naga customary law, practices, religion, and way of life.
“We have to protect 371 A particularly ownership of land and its resources,” he stated.
Jobs and more jobs
Claiming that the country is witnessing the highest rate of unemployment in 45 years, Ramesh satirically stated, “The more educated you are, the greater is the chance you are unemployed.”
He also repeated the claim that one educated unemployed youth commit suicide every two hours, and insisted that more and more jobs are needed in government sector, private sector, manufacturing, services etc.
Though India is facing this pressing issue, Ramesh opined that Modi will not talk about these issues, but will talk about other emotional issues.
Towards this end, he said the Congress party has introduced five justice programmes viz. youth justice, farmer justice, women justice, worker justice and social justice for weaker sections of society.
Hence, Ramesh said the Congress Party stands committed to champion the cause of democracy ensuring a vibrant and inclusive future for India.
