Voting is not the end of your duty; it marks the beginning of a larger task. In the name of discipline, some have been eliminated, but the need for discipline still remains. The difference now is that our discipline will not be imposed; it will be self-discipline. The awareness the public has shown during the elections must be reflected in their daily lives. No section of society has remained untouched by this storm—whether intellectuals, labourers, slum dwellers, government employees, small traders, lawyers, youth, students, women, or homemakers—all exercised their right to vote knowing that democracy is at stake. This vigilance regarding rights will be required moving forward as well. To ensure that elected representatives do not stray from the right path, you must remain vigilant. However, you must also be careful not to fall asleep after electing us.
Our ancestors did not ask God for wealth or weapons; they asked for one blessing: “May we remain awake as a nation.” May we, as a nation, remain vigilant, and may the troops stationed at our borders stay alert, so that no one can encroach upon our territory. We will not cast a malevolent gaze upon anyone, but we will not be so weak as to invite others to look upon us with malice either. Therefore, the army on our borders must remain alert, the commanders who lead them must remain vigilant, the political leaders who appoint these commanders must remain awake, and the 62 crore people of India, who have the power to make and break politicians, must stay vigilant. Those who thought they were indispensable, who believed that India could not function without them, who considered themselves synonymous with India—today, remembering them brings great pity.
“Indira is India, India is Indira”—perhaps now they realise that they should not have made such statements. We assure you that such arrogance will not be allowed to arise in the Janata Party and among its supporters. No matter how great an individual may be, they cannot be greater than the country. No party, no matter how powerful, can possess more strength than the 62 crore people. Individuals will come and go, parties will be formed and dissolve, new parties will emerge, governments will be established and changed. But India, stretching from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, will continue on this pilgrimage to embrace modernity along with its eternal culture for generations to come.
We are the descendants of this great India. This morning, at Bapu’s memorial, we dedicated ourselves to the ideals for which Bapu was born, lived, and ultimately attained martyrdom. We want to assure you that the new politics of brotherhood that has begun in the country will not be disturbed in any way. Any attempt to divide brothers will not be allowed to succeed. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Buddhists, Jains—all believers, while following their own paths of worship, will contribute to the building of this nation with a sense of respect for one another. There will be no discrimination against any region.
We know that we did not receive the support we hoped for in some states, but we want to assure those states that New Delhi will do justice to them, and not only will it do justice, but we will win their hearts through generosity.
A misunderstanding is being created, claiming that the Janata Party government will not support the Arabs and will support Israel instead. Respected Morarji Bhai has already clarified this situation. To dispel any confusion, I would like to say that we will consider every question based on its merits and demerits. However, regarding the Middle East, it is clear that Israel must vacate the land of Arabs it occupies. We cannot accept the invaders enjoying the fruits of their aggression. Therefore, the rules that apply to us must also apply to others. The land of the Arabs must be vacated, and the rightful claims of the Palestinians must be restored.
Israel’s existence has been acknowledged by both Soviet Russia and America, and we too have recognised it. A solution must be found for the Middle East that rectifies the aggression and establishes a foundation for lasting peace; where is the room for misunderstanding? But perhaps as a speaker, I am overstepping my bounds. It will be the new Foreign Minister who will shed light on our foreign policy. If there is anything to say, respected Morarji bhai will address it. But my connection has been with a party that has often been depicted during elections as being dominated by the Jana Sangh, which is portrayed as an enemy of Muslims. It is heartening that no one has fallen for this false propaganda. People have understood this game. The public has also seen that the Bharatiya Jana Sangh has merged into the Janata Party after ending its existence. Some of our old friends, who suddenly joined them overnight, claimed they were now pure, washed clean. So, is the ruling party some sacred pool that anyone who dips into it will come out holy? I should not refer to it as the ruling party, because we are the ruling party, and they are the opposition. But old habits die hard.
I mentioned that in Prayag, two rivers meet, and the third remains unseen, but in the Janata Party, four major rivers converge. This is a great pilgrimage site, washing away all impurities from national life, and will build a powerful, prosperous, modern India linked to the best aspects of our ancient heritage. Our commitment is to democracy, and we are advancing with the ideal of religious harmony; the Janata Party has also embraced socialism. It is true that our socialism will not lead to centralisation of power; rather, it will emphasise decentralisation. Power will be distributed among the people; the state will not be allowed to take on the form of a monster. Individual freedom will be preserved. However, we are committed to the ideals of socialism, we have accepted it, and we will need your cooperation in fulfilling these ideals in the future. I reiterate, stay awake. Vigilance is the mantra of life; vigilance is the guarantee of the success of democracy. In this moment of victory, with great humility and leaving behind all feelings of vengeance, let us unite with those who were not with us until yesterday and work towards nation-building. This is what is needed. Thank you.
This is part of ThePrint’s Great Speeches series. It features speeches and debates that shaped modern India.