New Delhi, Aug 4 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks about “forgiving” students who took part in the recent protests against paper leaks during competitive examinations, and along with other opposition leaders, mounted a strong defence of India’s federal structure.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah warned that what happened to Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 could be repeated in other states if the BJP remained in power.
Speaking at the launch of “Vaiko in Parliament”, a collection of speeches of MDMK founder Vaiko, Gandhi said the country was passing through “strange times”, with students protesting over unemployment and examination irregularities, and the prime minister speaking of “forgiving” them.
“We are going through strange times in our country. Students are on the streets, in severe pain. Youngsters don’t have work. They are asking for fairness in exams and an education system that works. On the other side, we have a prime minister who is forgiving them,” said Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.
“Who is he to forgive them? I don’t know. Where does he get this idea that he has the right to forgive the future of India? I don’t know. But that is what he chooses to do,” he said.
Gandhi alleged that the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) ideology seeks to reduce India’s diversity to a single narrative, while the Constitution recognises India as a “Union of States”, each representing the distinct history, language, culture and aspirations of its people.
“When you say Tamil Nadu, we are not just saying empty words. Inside those words is the history of Tamil people, their language, their pain, suffering and happiness. Every single state has the right to that expression and must be treated fairly,” he said.
Gandhi said attempts to undermine the identity of states and their cultures lay at the heart of the present political contest.
“This is really what the fight is about. This is why students are outside, because India will never accept any of its cultures, language or history being trampled by anybody,” he said, describing Vaiko as “a consistent politician” who had served not only Tamil Nadu but also “the Indian Union”.
Echoing Gandhi’s concerns over federalism, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah said that what the Centre did to Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 could be replicated in other states as well if the BJP remained in power. “Look at Jammu and Kashmir. A state converted to a Union Territory, completely against fundamental laws … And they are going to do this with other states also, be sure, if they remain in power. Kashmir was a practice ground,” he said.
Calling for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the elected government had “hardly any powers” while the authority rested with the Centre. He questioned how longer the people would have to wait for the statehood promise to be fulfilled.
Abdullah also questioned the functioning of constitutional institutions, stating that the Election Commission should be autonomous and the judiciary should be “far more democratic and not dependent on the wishes of the government of the day”.
He further challenged the government’s economic claims, asking how India could become a great power while “nearly 80 crore” people depended on free ration.
Referring to the July 20 police action against students protesting in Delhi, he said the manner in which they were “brutally treated” should serve as a wake-up call and urged people to unite against “dictatorial policies”.
Speaking on the occasion, CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby said the Centre’s August 5, 2019, decision to abrograte Article 370 amounted to “the most unconstitutional assault” on Jammu and Kashmir. He described the erstwhile state as “a test case” for “a wider assault on India’s federal structure”.
Baby alleged that the Centre first dissolved the elected assembly, vested its powers in the governor and then pushed through the constitutional changes in Parliament, bypassing established democratic processes.
Warning that the precedent could be extended beyond Jammu and Kashmir, he said, “RSS realises that no trick will work in Tamil Nadu. So, tomorrow they can do with Tamil Nadu what they did with Jammu and Kashmir.” In a sharp attack on the judiciary, he said, “Just imagine, this has been questioned in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is sleeping over the matter. I am willing to be dragged to the Supreme Court for this contempt.” Baby also recalled the July 20 police action against young protesters at Jantar Mantar, describing it as “an indescribable assault upon a peaceful and democratic struggle”.
He said Vaiko had insisted on meeting injured SFI activists despite widespread disruption in Delhi and later met them at Surjeet Bhawan along with CPI(M) leaders.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav described Vaiko as a passionate parliamentarian who consistently championed the cause of Tamil Nadu and its people, and joked that although the veteran leader was 82, “he looks like 28”.
The function was also attended CPI general secretary D Raja, Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Manickam Tagore, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, RJD MP Manoj Jha, IUML leader E T Mohammed Basheer, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule, TMC MPs Sagarika Ghose and Mahua Moitra, MDMK principal secretary Durai Vaiko, Tamil Maanila Congress president G K Vasan, and Tamil Nadu Minister A Rajmohan. PTI AO RUK RUK
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