Real 'anti-nationals' are those misusing power to divide Indians: Sonia Gandhi

Launching a scathing attack on the government on B R Ambedkars birth anniversary former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday alleged that the regime in power is misusing and subverting the institutions of the Constitution and the people must act to defend the Constitution from this systematic assaultPenning an article in The Telegraph on the 132nd birth anniversary of Ambedkar the architect of Indias Constitution Gandhi said today the real antinationals are those who are misusing their power to divide Indians against each other on the grounds of religion language caste and genderAs we honour Babasahebs legacy today we must remember his prescient warning that the success of the Constitution depends on the conduct of the people entrusted with the duty to govern the Congress parliamentary party president saidShe alleged that today the regime in power is misusing and subverting the institutions of the Constitution and weakening its foundations of liberty equality fraternity and justiceGandhi alleged that liberty is threatened by misusing the law to harass people rather than to protect their rights and equality is assaulted by favoured treatment to chosen friends in every sphere even as the vast majority of Indians suffer economicallyAlso Read BJP fuelling fire of hatred targeting minorities Dalits tribals women Sonia GandhiFraternity is eroded by deliberately manufacturing an atmosphere of hatred and polarising Indians against each other The resultant injustice is amplified by pressuring the judiciary through a sustained campaign Gandhi saidAt this junction in our nations history people must act to defend the Constitution from this systematic assault she saidAll Indians wherever they stand political parties unions and associations citizens in groups and as individuals must play their parts at this critical time Dr Ambedkars life and struggle teaches critical lessons which can serve as a guide the former Congress president saidShe said the first lesson is to vigorously debate and disagree but ultimately work together for the nations interestThe history of Indias freedom struggle is full of sharp disagreements among Mahatma Gandhi Jawaharlal Nehru Ambedkar Sardar Patel and many others she notedThese debates naturally attract interest as they offer many perspectives on serious questions about our future she addedBut we must not forget that ultimately all the eminent men and women who fought for our freedom worked together for our independence and to shape our nation Their ups and downs at different times only shows that they were fellow travellers on a common journey and they were well aware of the fact Gandhi saidDr Ambedkars conduct as the Chairman of the Constituent Assemblys Drafting Committee exemplifies this principle she assertedShe said the second lesson to learn is to encourage a spirit of fraternity the bedrock of the nationBabasaheb believed deeply in the importance of nurturing a brotherhood of Indians as one people saying without fraternity equality and liberty will be no deeper than coats of paint she saidIn his final speech he discussed how the caste system strikes at the roots of fraternity and called it antinational Gandhi recalledThis phrase is abused by those in power today but Dr Ambedkar explained its true meaning the caste system is antinational because it brings about separation generates jealousy antipathy in short because it divides Indians against each other she saidToday the real antinationals are those who are misusing their power to divide Indians against each other on the grounds of religion language caste and gender Thankfully despite the regimes efforts the sense of fraternity runs deep in Indians Gandhi assertedShe cited the example of crores of Indians from all walks of life protesting against religious divisiveness raising their voices for livelihoods of farmers and helping each other to their best abilities during the COVID19 pandemic saying those instances prove that sense of fraternity runs deep beyond doubtWe must always nurture this sense of brotherhood and defend it from attacks in our households communities and organisations she saidThe third lesson from Ambedkar is to always fight for social and economic justice Gandhi saidDr Ambedkar fought for the rights of Dalits as well as the rights of all individuals and communities who were marginalised The system in the Constitution for backward classes and minorities is flexible and expansive and has enabled progressive action for their welfare she notedToday the challenges of ensuring social justice have taken new forms The economic reforms of 1991 introduced by the Congress government have increased prosperity but we now see growing economic inequality Gandhi saidReckless privatisation of public sector units is narrowing the system of reservation which offered security and social mobility to Dalits Adivasis and OBCs she arguedThe advent of new technologies is threatening livelihoods but also creating opportunities to organise better and ensure greater equality she saidThe challenge is to learn from Babasaheb Ambedkar and ensure social justice in these changing times and act on our convictions in our public and private lives Gandhi saidShe also quoted Babasaheb Ambedkars last words in the Constituent Assembly If we wish to preserve the Constitution let us resolve not to be tardy in the recognition of the evils that lie across our pathnor to be weak in our initiative to remove them That is the only way to serve the country I know of no betterThese words must be our resolve in the years to come Gandhi addedAmbedkars remarkable life remains an enduring inspiration today for all Indians she saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in 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