MARTYRDOM DAY OF MAHATMA GANDHI

24 AKBAR ROAD, 30 JAN, 1999 AT 1200 HRS

CONGRESS PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

Respected Kesariji

Members of the Congress Working Committee

Friends

This is a solemn occasion when we commemorate the martyrdom of the greatest Indian of our time, perhaps of all time. On this day in 1948, when free India was but a few months old, an assassin took the life of the Father of the Nation.

He and his immediate conspirators were arrested, tried and punished. But the forces, which spread the poison, are still at large. There is no greater tribute we can pay the Mahatma, and all he so passionately stood for, than to rededicate ourselves to fighting the forces which created the atmosphere of hate in which he was martyred.

Gandhiji saw it as his highest spiritual mission and national duty to keep the hearts of all Indians together. His severest challenge came during the communal riots, which swept the country in the tragic events of Partition. He chose to spend the Day of Independence quelling the fires in Calcutta in preference to celebrating in Delhi. By the strength of his example, he ended the ugly riots in that city. He then came to Delhi to end, by the magic of his touch, the madness that had overtaken the capital.

This same respect and honour, Gandhiji extended to all other minority communities. All were equal, there would be discrimination against none. The Fundamental rights guaranteed in our Constitution belong to all Indians. And these fundamental rights include the freedom to profess, practice and propagate one's faith.

These are the values and the vision of India that are under challenge, especially since forces inimical to secularism came to power a few months ago. It is no accident that the minorities in general, have been targeted. This is so ever since this Government showed itself to be weak and hesitant in enforcing the law of the land. Places of worship have been torched, innocent people threatened, beaten, bullied, injured and even killed. Instead of moving swiftly and decisively to end the violence and apprehend the perpetrators, homilies are given about national debates. This shows that the sin has, in fact, gone further, much further. There has not only been negligence in enforcing the law, there has been collusion and sympathy with the dark forces that stalk the land. This cannot remain the land of the Mahatma if this evil is allowed to spread unchecked. It is the duty of each one of us, as Indians and Congressmen, to stand up unflinchingly for secularism, and to fight till the last breath of our lives anyone who dares raise his hand against another in the name of religion.

We, as Indians, are heirs to a legacy of humanism, tolerance and equality, which alone can protect our noble heritage, ensure progress and our fair name in the world. Narrow sectarianism, divisive and extreme religious fundamentalism have to be entirely rejected in the building of our modern nationhood. They can never be the instruments of transformation. The strident agenda of hate and intolerance propounded by some reflects the mindset of those who killed the Mahatama. Their vicious propaganda has nothing in common with his philosophy and the noble tenets of our heritage.

Two thousand and three hundred years ago Emperor Ashoka in his Edits No. XII told us 'The beloved of the gods does not value either gifts or reverential offerings so much as an increase of the spiritual strength of the followers of all religions. This increase of spiritual strength is of many forms. But the one route is the guarding of one's speech so as to avoid the extolling of one's own religion and the decrying of the religion of another, or speaking lightly of it without occasion or relevance. As proper occasions arise, persons of other religions should also be honoured suitably. Acting in this manner, one certainly exalts one's own religion and also helps persons of other religions. Acting in a contrary manner one injures one's own religion and also does disservice to the religions of others'. Panditji had wished that this inscription of Ashoka could be multiplied and made available to a vast number of people because he believed it represented the essence of the Indian approach, which had sustained us through the centuries.

As an expression of our deep commitment to the protection and welfare of the minorities. I have consulted with our Chief Ministers and the Presidnets of the Pradesh Congress Committees, as also, of course, with our national leadership, and am announcing today our Intensified Programme for the Protection and Welfare of the Minorities. You would all remember that Indiraji had proclaimed her 15-Point Programme in 1983. To ensure its proper implementation, Rajivji established a monitoring mechanism at central, state and district levels. Unfortunately, the 15-Point Programme has fallen into neglect. We cannot expect this Government to do anything serious about it. We have, therefore, identified seven key elements on which Congress State governments will start immediate action, and which the Congress will urge on state governments wherever we are not in office.

This Intensified Programme is our pledge to the Nation, and to the Father of the Nation, that we will live up to the high ideals on which the civilization of this ancient land is built, and which inspired our Freedom Movement and the building of an independent, democratic and secular India.

For half a century, the Congress has ensured the maintenance of the secular character of our great noble land. We will not allow that tradition and reputation to be sullied. As Jawaharlal Nehru said, whether we are in government or outside, we must fight for secularism. We renew our pledge on this Martyrdom Day to remain in the vanguard of the struggle for secularism.

With these words, I release this programme as a charter of duties for all Congressmen and women.

I cannot conclude this meeting without expressing the Congress Party's and my feelings of deep anguish and revulsion at the barbarous crime committed against the poor and helpless Dalit men, women and children of Shankar Bigha. Such acts are a blot on our polity. It is a matter of shame for all of us that they should take place in our country. This is not the legacy we want our children to inherit, this is not the India we want to bequeath to them. On this martyrdom day, we pledge to fight those who oppress the poor and the weak. We pledge to support the poor and the weak in their struggle to create an honourable place for themselves in our society.

Mahatma Gandhi amar rahe!

Jai Hind!