By TCN news,
Ahmadabad: All India Secular Forum (AISF) organized a meeting in Ahmadabad on 13th August to discuss Issues, Challenges & Way Forward regarding ‘Changing contours of India’. The meeting was organized at Maratha Hall, Lal Darwaja, Ahmadabad, Gujarat in association with other human rights observing groups – Janvikas, Insaaf, Parwaaj & National Peace Group. The meeting was actively participated by 55 youths, social activists, Grass root worker and community people.
During the meeting Irfan Engineer thoroughly evaluated new central government’s performance and policies according to its pre-poll agenda of curbing inflation, development of all, weeding corruption from government machinery and removing taxation load in the country. The discussion was participated by all providing their thoughts and suggestions.
These are some issue wise fragment of discussions presented mainly by Advocate Irfan Egineer and continued by others during meeting:
Budget
The election campaign of BJP had concentrated on one of its main agenda that there would be no discrimination on the basis of religion and there would be development of all sections of the society. Despite such an agenda, the first Budget announced by the Government does not show any signs in this direction. The Railway Budget has been increased of 14% which would affect the common person in daily needs as it would amplify transportation costs due to which the charges of essential goods like milk, diesel, etc would be directly affected. Seemingly there are no major long term steps introduced so far in controlling food inflation.
Development
The Government has passed Bills aiming to bring development in the country and counter the anti development forces in the country.The Government claims that there has been 3% drop in GDP due to NGO’s anti development activities and hence Finance Bill, 2014, has been brought in a series of amendments in Sections of Income Tax covering tax exemption for NGOs, trusts and charitable institutions. These amendments, however, gives sweeping powers to the government –from drawing tax benefits or cancelling their registrations. This has cleared hindrances for big industrial giants for setting their business.
Misplaced priority in assigning portfolios
The allocation of Ministries has not been given proper consideration. The portfolios of Environment and Rural Development have been given a secondary importance although these are important portfolios and needs thorough study before passing of any Bill.
Boost for Industrialists
Under the name of development industrial giants have green prospect for the upcoming future. The Government has proposed 100 mega cities in the upcoming Five Year plan meaning more inequities in terms of infrastructure development, ghettoization on the lines of caste and religion, insecurity for women, inadequacies in terms of access to health care to all. Nevertheless, this would also mean bright future for politician, bureaucrats, contractors and industrialists who would be key people in building mega cities in country.
Land acquisition Act has been amended for the benefit in acquiring land at a cheaper rate and not at a market rate. The provision of seeking permission from 70% of the residents has been removed and price of land to be given 4 times above the market price has also been removed from the Act. This is expulsion of people with balance weighed heavily against them promoted by the government.
Majoritarianism Vs Secularism and democracy
Secularism and democracy being the founding principles of the constitution are getting eroded due to saffronization by the government. There are increased numbers of communal clashes in the country after BJP coming to the power. As per Indian Express report dt.5th August 2014-Over 605 “communal incidents” in UP since LS results, 60% near by-poll seats.
Example of saffronization could be the appointment of present Chairperson, Mr. Sudershan Rao to the prestigious “Indian Council of Historical Research” as his thoughts are affiliated towards Hindutva ideology. The person holding such a stature sends a negative image to the country.
Then remark of Supreme Court Judge Anil Dave that “ he would have made compulsory the study of “Geeta” in schools and colleges if he were a dictator”. This speaks volumes about a Supreme Court Judge who ironically is supposed to uphold the values of democratic functioning and secular values. Even the act of Shiv Sena MPs force feeding a Muslim canteen supervisor speaks volumes about how the country is losing secularism.
The tolerance towards other religion, practices, culture, seem to be fast dwindling leading to mono culture and insecurity among the minorities.
No voice for marginalized
Marginalized section of the society has been left with no stake in policy making as also the voices of opposition has been subdued under the names of good governance and development. Anti government voices are dubbed as anti national or anti development there by suppressing minorities in the country.
Agreed points of implementation
The discussion was very rich in its interactions and overwhelming when participants came forward and provided their suggestions for containing communal emotions growing each day in the countrymen, especially youths. These are some of the implementation points agreed in a meeting:
1. The group should intervene in the School & College to spread peace & communal harmony
2. People working on different issues should come together to struggle against communal forces
3. The group should take the movement of Secularism to each individuals and concept of citizenship should be mooted among the people
4. The group should openly challenge the communal ideology
5. The group should promote small peace building initiative at grass root level
6. The group needs to build relation with the people and specially with the parents of children so that it can proceed further on the developing understanding peace and communal harmony.
7. The group needs to go to the people to generate awareness on constitutional rights, so that people start demanding their rights and democracy process strengthened