The Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity (FDCA) organised a virtual programme on August 15 to mark the 75th Independence Day.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of the FDCA, Professor Muchkund Dubey, who is a veteran diplomat and former Foreign Secretary, said, “The country achieved independence after a great struggle. Our forefathers made these sacrifices because freedom gives self-respect and dignity to a nation.”
Explaining the value of freedom, Prof. Dubey quoted freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who says ‘freedom is my birth right and I shall have it’. Prof. Dubey said, “No self-respecting nation can deprive itself of this right, and without it, socio-economic development is impossible.”
Prof. Dubey further said, “Dr. Ambedkar, while presenting the draft Constitution before the Constituent Assembly, stated that if we fail to implement the economic and social provisions of this Constitution, its political provisions will become useless and our democratic system will fail.”
He added that when Subhash Chandra Bose was the President of the Congress, he formed a committee to consider the matter and make recommendations. “Rights of the minorities enshrined in the Constitution to ensure their right of customs, educational institutions, religious freedom and security were taken from this recommendation. Subhash Chandra Bose appealed to the majority to take care of the freedom of minorities, their religious freedom.”
Expressing concern over the new laws targeting minorities, Prof. Dubey said, “Their basic rights are being deprived through laws, violence, and harassment by the police and investigation agencies. All this is happening according to a set policy. This has been an agenda of the ruling party for a long time. The present government is practically implementing it. No prudent person can believe that laws related to cow protection, love jihad are being passed in the states without the consent of the central government. The government is pursuing a policy of division. Social and economic progress can never be achieved due to it.”
Talking about economic policies, Prof. Dubey has said that the Indian government has handed over the country to the capitalists in the name of economic policies, neglecting the health and education sectors, consequently poor people are suffering.
Making some suggestions during his speech, Prof. Dubey advised, “The wave of communalism must be stopped. For this purpose, the minds and hearts of the people should be changed and the path of Gandhi has to be followed. This requires education, training and research. The Indian nation needs to be given a direction that is different from the communal and fanatic image. There should be a fundamental change in economic policy. Old institutions have to be developed. People related to the healthcare sector have to be trained and encouraged. It can be done only in the public sector. Under the Foreign Policy, India must first create friendly relations and a cordial atmosphere with its neighbours.”
At the end of the programme, FDCA National General Secretary and Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Prof. Mohammed Salim Engineer, congratulating the people on the Independence Day, said, “We will try to convey to the government that the country needs to be taken in the same direction on which the founders of the Constitution had determined. Together, we will strive to lead the country on the path of peace, prosperity, love and justice.”