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PRESS RELEASE ON 30th JAN
2000, By Mr Kanshi Ram of Bahujan Samaj Party ( BSP ) on the
Warning given by the President of India to the Nation and Govt. while
speaking in the Central Hall of Parliament on 27th Jan 2000, the
50 year of framing of Indian Constitution, advising the Govt not to go in for
a Review of the Constitution, but to study and Analyse the way the successive
Govts were working to implement the Constitution and various Provisions there
in. I welcome the warning
sounded by the President about the Government's move to Review the
Constitution. It is strange that
instead of clearly identifying the areas where Review or Amendment is needed,
the Govt are keeping everything under the cloak of secrecy, by proposing a
Review of the whole Constitution. The Constitution of
India as drafted by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, although not fully accepted still,
reflected the aspirations and hopes of the vast millions, who were made to
live degraded sub human lives for centuries. As a result of the change in the Political and Social Scenario
brought by the Constitution, the shackles of the old social system have
weakened, and now there is tremendous awareness and awakening in the Bahujan
Samaj. In fact, the political
instability which has been witnessed in the last few years, is the result of
social mobility and dynamism of the Weaker Sections which has been generated
by the constitutional framework. The
political stability of yester years, was the result of not strong popular
base of the political parties, but the strict political control exercised by
the socially dominant groups over the Bahujan Samaj. Today, the situation
has changed. The vast millions are
refusing to accept the political hegemony of the small dominant social
groups, and have started asserting themselves to attain not only self respect
and dignity, but a share in power commensurate with their numerical
strength. As this struggle is
gaining strength, the resistance from the ruling social elite to yield is
also coming into play. The proposed
Review of the Constitution, is nothing but an attempt to bring changes in the
Constitution, in the name of ensuring stability to perpetuate the rule of the
socially dominant groups, and stifle and suppress the aspirations of the
newly awakened social groups. Here,
I would like to recall the warning given by Dr. Ambedkar in the Constituent
Assembly, where while pointing out the Contradiction of Political Equality
and Social Inequality, he said "We must remove this contradiction at the
earliest possible moment, or else those who suffer from inequality will blow
up the structure of Political Democracy, which this Assembly has so
laboriously built up." What we need to
ensure at this juncture, is not stability through Constitutional Provisions,
but stability by implementing existing provisions to secure a social order,
in which, Justice, social economic and political, shall inform all the
institutions of national life, and eliminate all inequalities in status,
facilities and opportunities not only amongst individuals, but also amongst
groups of People in the Country. The
problem is not the Constitution, but the people who have the authority, but
have no will and desire, to implement and uphold the Constitution. Lastly, I would like
to assert that BSP will oppose, any and every move to undermine the
socio-economic spirit of the Constitution, and will do everything to save the
basic features of the Constitution, which inter-alia include a responsible
Parliamentary form of Government.
Implied therein, is the concept of Government surviving only as long
as it enjoys majority in Parliament
Any attempt to change this system, in the name of stability, will not
be acceptable. Once again, I would
like to say that, I totally share the apprehensions expressed by the
President of India, and congratulate him for giving timely warning to the
Nation. Sd /- ( Kanshi Ram ) 30-01-2000 National President Bahujan Samaj Party ***************************************************************************************************************************** |