To mark the 75th Independence Day, the Welfare Party of India (WPI) organised a symposium in the national capital on August 15. The event was aimed at finding out how far the dream of founding fathers was achieved, the challenges ahead, and role of the people to protect, preserve and strengthen the Idea of India and democracy.
While referring to the age-old idea of imposing one language, culture and religion on other Indians, Prashant Bhushan, senior Supreme Court Lawyer said, “The manner in which bio-diversity is useful for our environment, the cultural, religious and linguistic diversity is also good for any country or society.”
On draconian laws like sedition laws, their use and misuse, Prashant Bhushan pointed to a statement made by Justice Lokur where he had said there is difference between rule of law and rule by law. If we say that in a given country there is rule of law which means that the rules made are not only implemented but the rules made are also fair and just. If there are unjust laws then we cannot say there is rule of law. All these Sedition laws, National Security Act and UAPA are unjust laws. What we can see today like arrest for speaking against the establishment or dissenting is rule by law but not rule of law.
On the role of the Judiciary, he said giving justice to people is not the sole responsibility of Judiciary; it should act as the Custodian of the Constitution and ensure that no institutions violate the spirit of the Constitution which are under its ambit. It can only be possible when Judiciary is independent. On the challenges ahead, he called for a mass joint movement on unemployment.
Dr Zafar-ul-Islam Khan, former Chairman of Delhi Minority Commission, said: The idea of India that was envisaged then has failed and today we are only capable of giving votes after every five years. We chose a dictator. Then they are free to do what they want. They give no attention even if we protest and agitate for days and months. Today the India we are in is not the kind our founding fathers had dreamt of.
While pointing to the challenges ahead, Dr Khan said if people do not wake up and struggle, it will go on and on and after 10 to 15 years it is most likely that India may get changed beyond our imagination. And we may be in a situation like that of Burma. Things can change for the better if people can struggle for long. It has happened in the past and can happen here also. We have seen the Blacks in America but things have dramatically changed for them now.
Dr S.Q.R Ilyas, President WPI, while presiding over the symposium, said the Preamble of the Constitution is the Idea of India. But it can hardly be found on the ground. We wish India to be a participatory and inclusive democracy and not only representative democracy we are in. In inclusive democracy, even the voice of microscopic minority would be heard even if the community does not have anyone to represent them in assemblies and parliament.
Mr. Raghavan Srinivasan, President, Lokraj Sangathan and Mr. Shamsher Ibrahim, President, Fraternity Movement of India also addressed the programme.