CONGRESS PARTY & SECULARISM - Indispensable ingredients of a united India!

CONGRESS PARTY

THE MOST RENOWNED NATIONAL PARTY OF INDIA BOTH DOMESTICALLY AS WELL AS WORLD-WIDE HAS ENDURED MUCH HARDSHIP AND CRITICISM RIGHT FROM DAYS OF PARTITION. INDIA DESPITE BEING THE LARGEST DEMOCRACY IS INFESTED WITH THE MOST DETESTABLE COMMUNAL EXTREMISTS AND CONSERVATIVE- CORRUPT-FANATIC-&-UNSCRUPULOUS BIGOTS WHO DEEM IT THEIR VESTED RIGHT TO DEGRADE THE NATION ON RELIGIOUS LINES. THIS WRITER WISHES TO PLACE ON RECORD THE FOLLOWING PIECE TO BELIE ALL SUCH ACCUSATIONS, ASPERSIONS AND TAIL-BEARING ATTITUDE OF A MAJORITY RELIGIOUS SECT WHO HAVE BEEN PERSECUTING PEOPLE AND DEMEANING GOVERNMENT.  IT IS ALSO THE INTENT OF THE WRITER TO WHOLEHEARTEDLY EXHORT THE TRUE, HONEST AND SPIRITED CITIZENS WITHIN THIS FOLD TO STAND UNITED WITH THE PARTY AND NATION AND TO PROPEL THE PARTY AND GOVERNMENT TO A RESOUNDING VICTORY IN THE COMING ELECTIONS. 

Care to remember those good old days when your granny, with her feeble and emaciated constitution, would sit staring in to a distant past trying to revive memories of the freedom struggle and all that her near and dear ones endured for the sake of the nation?  Today, in her dying moments, as her gaze hardly enables her see through foregone years, she avidly tries to pick up loose ends of those never forgettable history to acquaint the eager and expectant eyes of young children sitting crouched around her so very eager to catch every word of her narrative as to who or which party was responsible for diligently struggling to snatch the nation from foreign hands and who were those guilty elements who irresponsibly dragged the nation in to chaos and unending misery?

Remember as to how her countenance lit up a glow of ecstacy as she sat digging in to her fading memory to retrieve remnants of those early years as a result of which her today was made possible to sit back and relax with a sole consolation that the present day young generation would breath an air of freedom from struggle and persecution at the hands of foreign elements?

And how her feeble whisper would send a thrill of pride in to her inner soul as well even as her narrative reached a climax pertaining to an achievement of that which the nation today terms as a hard fought freedom!  Well, as she progresses in to depths of irretrievable history she feels all the more energized at the thought that around her were a new generation of listeners to her side of the story which unfortunately ended up on a sad note with the nation having been deprived of not merely a wholesome image, not only a leading personality in whom Congress Party depended upon for direction but above all it was the everlasting loss of a person who groomed the nation for an august entry in to the 21^st century! 

And just to think of it, these very young ones who with ardent faith and keen interest industriously listened to the episodes narrated by granny were but young enterprising citizens of a future era.  Be it the then withered 20^th century which sank unsung in to oblivion even as a saffronised government ransacked the sentiments of Indian populace or the culmination of a communal government which sidelined the secular credentials of an upcoming 21^st century.  What eventually made the difference to people and land was the discriminatory attack on a peaceful nation by brigade of crime-bent elements emerging to trample under foot whatever was achieved by Congress Party through years of hard work.

As the euphoria whipped up by unscrupulous leaders in regard to construction of a temple grew louder, the wave for a saffronised government lashed all attempts by secular forces to keep the nation cool.  Not surprisingly though, even before the 21^st century could peep in to the edifice of this large nation for securing the rights of people under secular ideals, a new government under the NDA had already made itself host to a chain of unending catastrophes.  The people faltered and the nation withered under the saffron party’s government never again to be in a position to retrieve the grandiose of expectancy of a solemn era for which it had made preparations for decades.

But what in effect those little children would have been listening to was only half the side of a reality which when it did come about had deprived the very nation and its people of a great soul who had risen to become the 6th youngest Indian Prime Minister of India to take the country in to the upcoming 21^st century, which then was only a few yards away from people’s reckoning.   Unfortunately, what ought never to have come about occurred to the dismay of people, party and nation on 21^st day of May, 1991.

Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the first ever youngest Prime Minister of India was no more. That was indeed a history straight out of the memory by a real life human being in the person of a granny!  But when real life becomes tragedy for a nation like India then even the poet would have his imagination chocked to suspense of innocence as evinced by an orphaned child.

“We waited long in pleasant glee we sang a song ‘neath every tree…………”.  But alas, the 20^th century slipped in a hurried struggle even as the nation had already got engulfed under a communally saffronised government. The lines of the poet might have ended abruptly but the memory of late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi who had groomed the nation and people for the upcoming 21^st century had been snatched away by cruel hands even before the sun in the horizon could emerge out of the shadows of a sinking 20^th century.  No bugle heard – no festoons spread and indeed no secular wave or flag fluttering around save for cries of bloodshed and riots that rent the air.  It was an era of communalism which further snatched many innocent Muslims and Christians in different territories of an independent India where independence had lost its rhythm and divinity butchered along with human beings at the hands of communals.

The nation, the largest democracy in the world and the second largest thickly populated country around the world after China was left rudderless. 

The nation was deprived of its shine and in its wake emerged the dragon of communalism which gave people six years of horror during which period the saffron flag depicting indulgences of crime and persecution by communals had overshadowed even the tricolor which had in effect lost all significance.  The nation was wholly vanquished and its citizens victimized at the hands of internal and external foes.

 

 

21^st century came with all the shine but did not receive a tumultuous reception as did the present day vague allegations of corruption making rounds in the national capital and most states in the North the abode of pestilent communals.  It overshadowed the very advent which had for long chimed the expectancy of a long awaited dawn.  That first dawn of first January of the first ever day of 21^st century era was staring in to the eyes of a communal government which had sidelined the inheritors of an independent India.  Gradually, the stare lost visibility and the divide became prominent.  The people of India had inadvertently committed a grave error by handing over the 21^st century government in to the hands of a communal people who knew no feel of secularism. 

Shri Rajiv Gandhi the former Prime Minister who groomed the nation for a graceful entry in to twenty-first century had been snatched away by cruel and treacherous elements of alien origin.  Fortunately fate decided the end of those very elements as well and LTTE got wiped out of the world map with no trace of its name and clout to haunt the island nation any further. 

 

Ancient India witnessed centuries of transformation. Through the years India got tamed and a barbaric India became a civilized nation.  As a civilized nation India traversed through millions of turmoil.  After years of struggle India saw the dawn of a new independence. 

An independent India encountered hordes of tribulations but simultaneously made miles of achievements and in the process encountered depths of divisions ideologically, spiritually and geographically.  Parties of different hues sprung up but that did not change India’s tricolor in to quadruplets but an indigenously manufactured shade brought about all the colour of communalization. 

 

By the time 20^th century screeched to a halt, India had shed much of its absurdity some of them pronounced as dowry burning instances, child marriages etc but inadvertently bumped in to a new cult described as extremism and lost in the bargain many of the renowned personalities to acts of treachery.  But Congress Party did not lose heart, rather with the same dedication and honest attitude counseled to them by their forefathers the followers of Indian National Congress carried the tricolor to its logical destiny.

Can a nation like India find better people on earth than the ones who carry the hand symbol for a party and enable the national tricolor flutter in the skies waving its colours of orange, white and green?  The orange colour depicting courage and sacrifice; white standing for truth, peace and purity, and green depicting prosperity with the ashoka chakra reminding people of the laws of righteousness. 

 

Congress Party has always safeguarded the national flag which symbolizes the image of over 1.3 billions of its citizens?  The Party delivered the era known to future history as the 21^st century to a people that had been bruised and brutally maimed by an indigenously manufactured curse known as communalism.

Incidentally, by the time 21^st century registered its august entry many dignified people of Congress Party or the Indian National Congress too had got devoured by a new concept called extremism. With the imposing emergence of a communal government under the NDA regime, treachery and blackmail by nefarious and extremist elements went on unabated.  Parliament attack, Pokhran II, Kandahar and Kargil were only few of the areas where the communal government faltered never again to become worthy and fit enough to rise up and make it for the government.

The inauspicious manner in which the 21st century culminated with the communal government rendering the nation all the perils of communalism, the entire nation had gradually descended in to a state of chaos giving no scope to a harmonious living.  NDA faltered at every stage till the very PM Atal Behari Vajpayee opted for a successful knee surgery at the cost of a communal government pulling the nation in all directions till the fag end of its five year period drew to a close. 

 

As the sun arose on the first day of January 2004 the NDA government was left with nothing to convey to an over anxious and expectant nation that was awfully worried about the prospects of another term likely to be made dull by the Bhartiya Janata Party and its NDA constituents.  The NDA government on its part had nowhere to look to for bedecking its past five years for adorning themselves for taking on the ensuing elections but took solace in the stray instances of shine generated by the cricket crowd and the ecstasy of worthless achievements.  Everything brought them cheers except the tears left behind on the hapless citizens and communities who had hitherto depended on the communal hoodlums.  While the nation was shorne of its show and shine the communal party namely the BJP and its NDA constituents chorused the India shining hype to project a sense of self-complacency. 

All the India shining call by the opposition and profusely chanted by the saffron brigade died down after a second chorus of sky-rocketing prices and dwindling economy.

The nation will reminisce with delight the fact that although the NDA government’s term was to expire on 1^st June, 2004, it was a notion of “India shining” hype which prompted the NDA under Vajpayee to opt for early election.  That in fact let the cat out of the bag.

The real face of communalism has hitherto been not unveiled.  The so called communals who smart under the nomenclature of RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Ram Sena etc. are burglars and plunderers of the nation, who confiscated enormous wealth, property, land, assets and pecuniary benefits including all that they could lay their hands on for which they ostentatiously pretended to struggle for ousting British government.  The nation needs to be apprised of all that the communal brigade consisting of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh has all along been engaged in.  In fact the present day communals were united under the RSS under pretense of collaborating alongside the Indian National Congress for ousting the British.  But the real motive of these plunderers and criminals was to confiscate enormous wealth and property held by the British for themselves.  With this motive in mind the communals under RSS went on to plunder the land of its integrity, righteousness and truth.

 

 

After independence these very criminals started disintegrating in splinter groups which are today known as RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Ram Sena etc. 

There is need for the nation to investigate the wealth in the hands of Bhartiya Janata Party, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Ram Sena and similarly the activities of communal organizations, institutions, Ashrams, Hindu Holy places, Hindu oriented spots which have eventually become haven of corrupt indulgences.

However, not everything was lost.  The nation still held its identity as a secular country with vast majority fully endorsing the need to stand united.  Congress Party took on the arch foes the communals and the people rallied around to wean away the huge chunk to the one only goal of achieving a united India.

Every human being carries with him an identity.  This identity reveals the inner image, the thought process, the purpose, link, definition and soul of a person’s character or the specifics of one’s personality.  When this identity is established for the greater good of a people or a nation, it would invariably possess a nomenclature namely the Congress Party.  For a nation like India, Congress Party is not only a name, rather it is an identity which reveals the progressive traits of this vast nation which emerged straight out of alien hands namely the British Empire.  The Congress Party had to be nurtured to its budding stage through constant efforts by people with selflessness and conviction. 

 

Purity of intention and devotion to duty – duty towards nation and people – has been the forte of Congress Party which was formed primarily to give a people their right, budded under the auspices of people with spirit of sacrifice, bloomed under people of Gandhi’s integrity, perfumed under secular credentials of spirited women like Smt. Indira Gandhi, guided to Portal No. 1 of 21^st century by the crowning glories of her own son Shri Rajiv Gandhi and which nation today stands personified under the name and style of Smt. Sonia Gandhi but having the baton of victory held aloft today by Shri Rahul Gandhi with the explicit intent of safeguarding the rights and credentials of 1.3 billion people of a secular India.  If the communalists can divine the message within the above lines and context they can stand to be counted as part of India, otherwise it will be thorn and thistles for the sort of communalism they want to adhere to and guillotine of wrath which alone can cut their arrogance and self centeredness to irretrievable fragments.  These lines are a direct warning to communalists lest they find their dreary culture of communal agenda slip off their petty minded aspirations.

Indian National Congress or Congress Party is the one only witness to the tepidity the people of India manifested towards achieving a unified India, at clinching the common goals and at projecting the ethos for which the nation endeavoured to become independent.  We are an India today for the world around but within us there is no India that the world believes us to be.  We are divided on matters of common interest.  We are at loggerheads when it comes to forsaking our mean differences.  And we shun the very characteristic which qualifies the bind viz. communal harmony which ought to be the prerogative of every citizen, every religion and every institution that has sprung up in the name of the land and its people.

 

Congress government too at one stage in the company of its allies occupied the benches of the Opposition when the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government was in power.  But never did Congress Party exhibit any such arrogance or craze for power as are the BJP and communalists today seized of.

Today, while Congress Party continues to forge ahead with the same vigour and determination under the guidance of Smt. Sonia Gandhi assisted by Shri Rahul Gandhi and scores of eminent Congressmen and women who have dedicated their selfless service for the service of the country, the nation would definitely like to take a look back at the immense strides made in every field viz. domestic, economic and foreign fronts.

How does India of the present day era fare when compared to the turbulent years immediately preceding or following independence?  Does the independent nation of today provide any trace of resemblance to the bygone years when practically 90% of its population had been living below poverty line, struggling to earn one square meal a day?  Can one imagine the enormous progress made by the nation from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and likewise from Goa to Manipur which practically erased the predicament the people were in for so many years say some 65 to 70 years earlier when the country was yet to be liberated from the British rule? 

 

Given the fact that communalism is as much of a world phenomenon, yet the aggressive manner in which Indian populace consisting of Hindus and Muslims react to it may be worth taking note of.  Incidentally, it is this one compelling feature which has left the two neighbors namely India and Pakistan maintaining a vengeful distance from each other. It needs to be reiterated that immediately after the struggle of independence, there was a semblance of peace and oneness among the two neighbors but soon things turned sour and the barbarity of old returned to haunt the two soon thereafter. 

Besides the many compelling reasons which give fillip to a notion prompting projection of Congress Party as the only choice for ruling India, there is an electrically conclusive reason to prop up Congress Party as the one party possessing the right profile, attitude, dedication, honor and dignity to assume the responsibility of ruling the country on account of its implied and spontaneously earned publicity from Indian mob themselves.  And what, may I ask, is that conspicuous fame?

Electrically speaking Congress may be adjudged as the best option for a country like India where no people or party has earned profuse admiration on account of their unique achievements.  So much so people and parties who are yet to earn even remote recognition, are vying with one another and queuing up to have a similar shot at the high in which Congress Party is presently doing unruffled despite the tantrums of the opposition and intermittent menace from unruly crowds headed by the Hazare-Ramdev-Kejriwal gangs. How come?

 

Whenever the opposition gets hold of a name from the ruling elite eligible enough for their smear campaign, the name is automatically passed on to the real rulers of the country namely the mob and soon whispers go around on the enormous corruption that that particular name could have committed.  The public then sit behind closed doors to roughly estimate the quantum of money that could have been siphoned off to foreign banks by that unknown name while income-tax officials get set to pounce on the name.

By coincidence the real damage starts a build up only after the name reaches the people’s forum or to be precise the mob forum whereat a judgement is pronounced by all and sundry which judgement gets carried on to the road that “the government is corrupt”. 

When such formalities by people on the road are being engaged in, if per chance someone from among public even by mistake whispered the name of Congress Party, straight would fall the hammer of order “Congress government is corrupt”.  Thereafter, a silent curtain falls over the entire issue and that is that.  Just amusement by a distraught public who merely need one or the other point of fact, either a cricket match to cheer or a government to blame! After all democracy too is government ‘of the people, by the people and for the people’.

 

Naturally so, Congress Party has every reason to thank the mob for making party famous to the amusement of a cricket loving public!

Despite all odds, the overall progress, development and achievements made by a progressive India can only be summed up by independently taking in to consideration the enormous labour put in, painstaking efforts made, the unstinted efforts engaged in, enormous sacrifices offered and far reaching achievements reaped  by Congress Party as a national entity prior to and after India became independent. 

The name and fame of Congress Party finds chant on the lips of millions of enterprising citizens both young and old who would not flicker an eyelid to profess its identity as the only national party whom the 1.3 billion people of this vast democracy can trust.

 

Congress Party by dint of its being a national party has always evoked profound respect and love by the India’s millions all over the country.  Having been responsible for steering the course of the nation in the most expedient manner, the party has always been cherished as the pride of the nation in whom people of all categories can trust.

Indian National Congress assisted by a number of likeminded regional allies has been managing the government single mindedly.  The allies aired no differences which may have existed within them inherently as each of them being followers of different parties with specific agenda or ideals. 

However, throughout the last nearly five years, the alliance at the centre has managed to forge ahead with a single aim of achieving the progress of the nation and advancement of people.  And rightly indeed, the Congress Party has been steadfast throughout in its approach and determination to carry forward the aspirations of nation and people to a logical end.

November 2013 would have the national capital of Delhi gearing up to elect a new government.  The present government under Smt. Shiela Dixit did give Delhi a facelift to give the capital a look quite different from what Delhi used to be like prior to 1998 which saw the present Chief Minister Smt. Shiela Dixit being elected to head the government.

Prior to the present government taking charge of Delhi administration, the capital had been reeling under a spate of spine chilling crimes, daring assault by extremists besides lack of public utilities and problems with regard to transport of millions flocking to Delhi to eke out a living.  Today, that Delhi has changed to having become capable of accommodating lakhs of people who have been crowding the capital, which obviously possesses the necessary amenities, infrastructure, reasonably affordable cost of living and a sense of harmony and peace.

Living in Delhi was never so pleasant as compared to the times when Smt. Sushma Swaraj as CM used to make regular inspection of Police Stations during the night because the officials and people were not motivated the manner they ought to have been during the era when the communal government ruled Delhi.

After Smt. Shiela Dixit took over the government she brought about tremendous reforms both at the government level as also in the people to people as well as the people to government relation.

Her initiative in promoting the “Bhagidari” (people’s participation in the process of governance) apart, she was one of the first to enforce the RTI Act in letter and in spirit.  Moreover, one should not sideline the coveted United Nations Public Service Award 2005 which improved transparency, accountability and responsiveness in public service.

Smt. Shiela Dixit has contributed extensively for the welfare of all including the constant influx of people from far and near in search of greener pastures.  The vast populace which Delhi is presently holding ought to remove any doubt in the minds of the electorate that the Congress Government has at any time ignored any area or overlooked any single activity undone or half done. 

And, the many successeses and achievements which make the name of present Chief Minister praiseworthy for not merely now but for ages to come should prompt the electorate of Delhi to vote for Congress Party to bounce back with a resounding success.

Under Smt. Shiela Dixit, Delhi made many giant strides which ought to prominently make the period of her tenure stand out predominant as greatest achievements for the last many decades that Smt. Shiela Dixit assumed the role of Chief Minister. 

She not only made the capital famous for numerous thrilling achievements like Common Wealth Games and other related sports activities but was even responsible for the huge potential created by way of infrastructure and other amenities all of which made Delhi the shining capital of a vibrant India.

Having traversed the last over 40 years through various stages of development that made Delhi stand out prominent as a star city in the whole of India, this writer can convincingly pick out the three tenures of the present day Chief Minister namely Smt. Shiela Dixit to have made the maximum progress and the work so done by the CM is especially laudable.

Incidentally the present Chief Minister Smt. Shiela Dixit has many pluses and a string of fabulous chain of major achievements to her credit.  These include the many roads and highways which account for approximately 33,500 kilometers as also many bridges and overhead pedestrian footpaths all of which make Delhi a most safe and secure capital.

Smt. Shiela Dixit also deserves kudos for having initiated the Metro Rail Corporation, the CNG transpsort system, a large number of flyovers all over Delhi, enhancing  the prospects of a cleaner environment with increased green cover, reforms in the Power sector, distinguished improvement in the standard and results of government sponsored schools, quality-based public health infrastructure besides many income generation schemes that she brought about towards the advancement of people, nation and the capital in particular.

Her efforts to provide a clean environment to citizens earned for Delhi the ‘Clean Cities Award’ during 2003. 

She has been instrumental in bringing about awareness in the disuse of plastic bags, anti-cracker campaign; plant more trees campaign and dissuading hooligans from playing holi recklessly.

Immediately after the Delhi Assembly elections, the nation would set about with preparations for Lok Sabha polls due to be held during May 2014 to decide who or which party should form the next government at the centre.  But prior to Lok Sabha Elections there are assembly elections due in a number of states, Union territory of Delhi being one among them as stated earlier.   No doubt the one gigantic question that might keep pestering people at least till middle of next year would be about the likely group or party that could manage to wean away a sizeable number of votes in its favour.  In order to find answers to such precarious questions it is important to assess as to who among the national parties could possess the right attitude towards people and nation?  Who among the national leaders could claim to be individuals with the right frame of mind, necessary input, flawless attitude and inspired conviction to be capable of leading the masses in the company of a party or forum for giving people and nation a direction?

It has always been the endeavour by Congress Party to carry people along harmonious lines despite serious differences cropping up from alliance parties and partners including the opposition.  Moreover, despite frequent instances of anarchy and chaos indulged in by its own people, the government has never thrown up its hands fed up of the mayhem the people themselves have been indulging in time and again, under one plea or the other. 

Congress Party never lay the blame for constant bickering by opposition, hold up of proceedings in parliament or the citizens themselves taking to streets to stall the progress the nation is making through unstinted efforts by the government that was awake to people’s problems.

Today the same nation has made huge strides to be acknowledged the world over as an impregnable fortress of democratic values besides being capable of hoisting Common Wealth Games, Asiad and like international events which project the nation as a formidable force to reckon with.

All the developments which took place during the last many decades have been the outcome of hard work and neat execution by Congress Party nurtured to its existence by people of eminence, dignified people who had a dream to see India on top of the world map. 

However, the country was never free from high-handedness by vested interests and people who savoured freedom yet preferred luxury and comfort to commitment and hard work. 

There is no denying the fact that ever since freedom was wrested from the British rulers, India has been making steady progress on all fronts by huge strides, step by step and the end result of which makes India today a force to reckon with.  All credit for all the achievements including progress and developments made by India wholly and exclusively to Congress Party, the only national party of INC fame.

India and the right thinking citizens of this vast country are proud of the government headed by the Indian National Congress assisted by a number of likeminded regional parties for the speedy manner in which the nation is progressing on all fronts. 

Despite frequent instances of anarchy and chaos indulged in by its own people, the government did not ever throw up its hands fed up of the mayhem its own people were creating time and again under one plea or the other. 

However, the Congress Party, on no occasion, has ever laid the blame for constant bickering by opposition, hold up of proceedings in parliament or the citizens themselves taking to streets to stall the progress the nation is making through unstinted efforts by the government that is ever awake to people’s problems.

Today the same nation is capable of hoisting Common Wealth Games, Asiad and like events which project the nation as a formidable force to reckon with.

Congress Party has transformed a nation of under nourished, ill bred, ill cultured, ill mannered, ill gotten village oriented human beings in to a race racing to reach towns and cities for better prospects both career-wise as also to achieve a profession to live a life with heads held high. 

And what is really amazing is that a people who only few decades back were accustomed to mimicking the era of British days with ‘saheb-madam’ adulation of wealthy families are today moving about in pompous attire with self owned vehicles on streets wider than royal highways with broad smile of comfort and luxury on their faces. 

The same people who hardly managed to maintain themselves with a pair of trousers and lived through borrowed articles are today trading in expensive clothes worn and discarded by wealthy families of the same land that the British left to the care of the natives.  Ever since money started spinning around their own lives, people have got habituated to moving around with an aura of solemnity and satisfaction.

The same citizens of the land, who were accustomed to travelling in overcrowded buses or hanging on to fully packed trains in order to reach their areas of work, are today reaching their work places in fully air-conditioned metro railways or in comfortable transport vehicles that ply on every nook and corner all over the country. 

People who would sit perspiring in hardly ventilated rooms and buildings of yesteryears today live in fully furnished bungalows with fans, exhausts, ventilators, and air conditioners that have brought about comfort of extraordinarily royal grade. 

Do we enumerate the enormous strides of progress made by a nation which once claimed to be on its road to self sufficiency and development?  Congress Party sees these strides as only a first step to the leap that the nation is yet to make.

India is no more the barbarous country that was a few decades earlier.  Rather it has got converted in to a high class nation where people and land progressed side by side.  And it is only a matter of pride that just as the nation progressed, so too comfort and luxury increased and demand for items of costly and expensive nature started increasing. 

As a matter of fact ease of life and comfort have come to be welcomed and people in unison chorus the ride the nation took to progress and development.  While the neighboring countries and super powers vie for cooperation with India, India goes by its discretion to make its presence felt in the world market as well quite like or in better competition than her next door neighbour China itself. 

These and many other achievements only go to laud the sacrifices and earnest efforts put in by Congress Party without whose dedicated work it would not have ever been possible.   

As of today, people no more go about guessing the price for comfort; rather they are eager to don the luxury and extravaganza just as other world powers are looking at life.  A progressive stride takes all that for a people to feel that their nation is progressing at par with the rest of the world.

And this is what made a modern India which surpassed all areas of poverty and down-trodden era to have become a contender for super power status.  No, it is not that prices have increased; rather it is the life style that has changed enabling people to don royal attire and healthy living.  This is India of today viz 21^st century quite unlike the land that the British left for the self rule of natives.

All credit to Congress Party with the heartiest of thanks from nationwide partymen and people at large.  Congress Party has been forthright in its attitude, patient in its approach and considerate in its forbearance.  The party did not lag behind on any front neither did it lack in the required disciplines despite several insurmountable hurdles placed in the progressive fronts of both party and government. 

The party was steadfast in its endeavor and was never found wanting in any discipline be it on the oneness of nature, decisiveness of purpose, steadfastness of approach and in the style of functioning.  The party managed to outshine all including the opposition despite the menacing public doing what they ought never to have done.

The extraordinary style with which Congress Party met everyone of its obligations as a government with decisiveness of purpose and as a party with firmness of resolve made even the opposition leave their seats within the Parliament for creating unnecessary clamour for the resignation of people who were better equipped to deal with such menace.  Was it the sort of reaction that the founding fathers and constitutional experts would have desired the opposition to do? 

Congress Party sacrificed its sweat and blood for the good of the nation and prosperity of its people.  Congress Party gave the nation a direction and it is up to the people to follow the guidance of Congress Party and vote back the party with landslide win both for the ensuing Delhi Assembly elections as well as during Elections - 2014.

A victory by Congress Party would mean a victory by India, victory by Mahatma Gandhi, victory by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Smt. Indira Gandhi, Shri Rajiv Gandhi and so much the same for Smt. Sonia Gandhi and the next in line to ascend the position of Prime Minister of the nation namely Shri Rahul Gandhi.

All the developments took place at the behest of a party nurtured to its existence by people of eminence, dignified people who had a dream to see India on top of the world map.  However, the country was never free from high-handedness by vested interests by people who savoured freedom yet preferred luxury and comfort to commitment and hard work. 

People who lived for more than 60 years – this writer included - and watched the nation progress steadily by huge strides, step by step, are witnesses to a dream being logically fulfilled.

Years of yearning by renowned and dignified people of eminence who streamlined a path to such climax and had the nation bloom in the horizon of a new dawn, a new age and a new era with minutely planned strategy for development have all borne immeasurable fruit.  The very same people of eminence had also reared up noble minds to handle the overall political realm of a free India the outcome of which are never devoid of statistics. 

And Congress Party too has ensured the culmination of the nation to achieving a stage of excellence for the entire world to stand in awe of such fast paced progress which India has been making. 

Even today the inheritors of the land namely the Indian National Congress is forging ahead under Smt. Sonia Gandhi with a closely knit team of Congress Party functionaries and workers under the stewardship of Shri Rahul Gandhi, diligently giving the nation a clear direction which will definitely tell on the future of India and its people.

The Indian National Congress achieved the impossible namely freedom of the land from British rule.  But what the evergreen Congress Party inherited from its mother association was not the laurel of having to reign over a fully developed nation.  Rather it was a land shorne of its shine with poverty gripping not only the villages far and wide, but even the cities and towns were left with merely a past which one would least have desired to remember about. 

A great responsibility lay on the shoulders of Congress Party immediately after achieving independence.  But it was no time for Congress Party to sit and gloat over the problems faced by the nation.  The party had to move from scratch.  It was a huge responsibility having to guide the nation and people through years of hardship, famine, wars, human pestilence, and plague besides the amount of public menace such as burglary, arson, loot and murders which left many rising in revolt. 

However, Congress Party decided that the nation had to go forward.  And the party set about doing things piece by piece, bit by bit and area by area.  Today it has achieved more than what the founding fathers of the nation would ever have contemplated upon.  The nation progressed with giant strides and came abreast of the world.  This was made possible because of the force that worked behind the one and only national party namely the Indian National Congress led by the successors associated with the leading lights of freedom movement and its aftermath. 

Consequent upon achieving freedom many who managed to derive the fruit of their association with Congress Party started taking undue advantage of the benefits so accrued.  Even those in whom the nation trusted to endure within the Congress Party as loyal citizens started finding ways and means to differ with the party for their narrow objectives. 

It was the prime responsibility of Congress Party not to pressurize such people who decided to part ways.  After all Congress Party emerged out of the Indian National Congress which took everyone in its stride to achieve a huge victory which was contributed to by all without exception. 

As such Congress Party was bound by the precepts of Mahatma Gandhi and other eminent men and women, who deemed it prudent for the nation to adopt a Constitution framed for the purpose of governing the people as on 26^th January, 1950.

 

The situation was made volatile by the then hardcore elements namely the RSS and similar outfits.  Immediately after attaining freedom the attention of the leaders was diverted to pacifying the immediate neighbour namely the undivided Pakistan.  It was a formidable task to bring them on board. 

Added to the problem was the menace of communalists and other elements under the RSS who kept brainwashing people in to forcing a divide.  Even today the nation is reeling under the venom of these very communalists namely RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Ram Sena etc who have the daggers drawn behind the back of a unified India. 

Whereas the entire nation always stood as one, these communalists have left no stone unturned in destabilizing the nation which brought about the Gujarat-2002, Orissa-2008 and Karnataka furor which made the North-Eastern people flee the state.

Indian National Congress assisted by a number of likeminded regional allies have been managing the government single mindedly.  The allies aired no differences which may have existed within them inherently as each of them being followers of different parties with specific agenda or ideals. 

A democratically elected government under the able guidance of Congress Party functionaries and officials fully capable of managing the affairs of the nation, is today well entrenched in the saddle, which government and party are fully capable of safeguarding the tomorrow of the nation. 

UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government today holds a vibrant majority and the government is in total control of the ill-conceived motives of a fading opposition working in tandem with the disruptive forces behind the veil of a thrust against corruption. 

The Opposition has infact thrown up many slogans against corruption, price rise and mismanagement, which have hitherto been replied to in details and will be further discussed during the course of time.  However, Congress Party denies all such allegations as a ploy to capture power.  This was also the issues raised by BJP during their gathering in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday 28^th July, 2013. 

However, the panic so exhibited by BJP, the main Opposition Party does portray the existence of some kind of wave in favour of Congress Party.  Indeed, Congress Party and Congress Government have in a closely knit fashion worked hard for the progress of the nation but the menace from the main opposition and stray elements have been hampering the government from going ahead with the well designed and ably worked out schemes for the welfare of the nation and people.

Incidentally, the random few unscrupulous and corrupt elements bent on destroying the peace of the land have been taken to task by a determined government which has not allowed a let up in the progress the nation has been making ever since.

Moreover, the Indian majority stands firmly behind the government and every one strongly denounces the disgruntled hooligans that keep on creating hurdles against the efforts being put in by government for carrying the aspirations of people and nation to a stage of excellence. 

No doubt despite all the mayhem being created by the opposition and stray elements the process and functioning of government and the works related to development are going on in full swing which is there for all to see! 

The government at the centre is active and decisive with a firm will to establish a corruption-free society. However, there are hurdles that need to be tackled through legal process and procedures by keeping the prestige of the nation in mind. There are areas which need to be preserved from prying eyes of foreign countries, others which need to be kept away from ordinary public and then to clear the hassles for ridding the nation of evil forces at work will need to be done cautiously without stepping on to the rights and privileges of people at different levels.

Every democratically elected government functions within the framework of trust and confidence. And every citizen must abide by the norms, laws or bylaws of discipline and confidence, reposing the same measure of trust in the larger interest of the millions for whom the government is striving to bring about an extraordinary period of advancement.

Accordingly, the primary responsibility of every citizen is to abide by the norms, laws or bylaws of discipline by extending a hand of cooperation to the government. However, the present day mob has unevenly twisted the values and ideals of democracy to press for their arbitrary and unilateral demands without heeding the presence of government put in place.

Agitation within the periphery of democracy ought to be suggestive and constructive for the government but stretching the rights and opportunities granted to people to extreme levels is making a mockery of the very Constitution adopted by the nation for a self rule by way of democracy.  This attitude does not augur well for a democratic nation (India) aspiring to be a super power.

Incidentally, such approach only favors the extremists or unsocial elements. It amounts to harboring mistrust towards government or looking the other way, while the extremists gain a free hand to move about unchecked.

People have a notion that the government is there to work magic and they hold a constitutional right to hammer down their demands. This manifests scant regard for priorities, bypassing of general good and future of the nation.

If the public cannot see eye to eye with the government, if the public cannot put forward their points of view across the table without allowing the government to legislate with due regard for the entire nation, it would imply a certain amount of disregard for values that matter viz. honesty, reality and truth. 

Invariably, at the very drop of a hat, the mob runs amuck looking for scapegoat, and the only one they pick to pour out their fury is the government! Thanks! Had there been no government, imagine the number of innocent human beings who would have fallen victim to these extremist-tainted mob who would leave no stone unturned to bury their ire taking a heavy toll in its wake. 

Where exactly are we right in our intentions that the determined extremists are not? How do we distinguish ourselves as peace loving citizens, but miserably fail to compromise with day to day problems arising out of our own culpability and place the onus on the government? If everyone attempted to do some soul searching for the causes and reasons for the unfortunate incidents, we might as well find ourselves at both ends i.e. the perpetrators of the act as also the victims! 

The prime responsibility of people is to trust the government, abide by laws and norms of discipline and extend a hand of cooperation. No amount of control can ward off the extremist elements if people look the other way. There is no magic wand and if people harbor mistrust about the rulers such a situation can only favor the terrorists, hence the blasts!

Congress Party is a consortium of elite people from all sections of society, people belonging to different faiths, people speaking different tongues, people adopting different customs, cultures, habits, moods or feelings.  Yet, unlike the regional and communal parties, Congress Party in a very special and conclusive manner portrays that singular image capable of dispelling from the minds of all and sundry that undue fear of an individual ever becoming victim of high-handedness, neglect, prejudice, partiality or deprivation.    

What makes Congress Party unique in every sense?  What enables Congress Party strike a rapport with people of every hue, of diverse attitude, divergent approach, contradictory mentality, varying perceptions, fluctuating temperaments and converging directions?  What makes Congres Party symbolize a centrifugal force at which everyone’s rage too gets directed?  What makes Congress Party a focused target for opposition by every other party, national or regional, communal or communist, biased or prejudiced, individual or collective and mediocre or advanced?

What makes the officials, functionaries, workers and supporters of Congress Party reveal that outward glow of inward shine, that dint of unreservedness, a blend of bliss-like liveliness, universality of attitude and a semblance of gracefulness?

Flexibility of view, stand-point, approach, focus and execution is the forte of Congress Party which makes the party, its leaders, party functionaries, its office bearers and party workers convey an enduring appeal among its adversaries, opposition parties and the nation as a whole.  The party maintains a show of equanimity with all who come across its path that is laid out with a distinct show of earnestness to achieve that excellence which ought to make all citizens and people stand out prominent as a unique nation.  The party has a constant thrust and focus in all its endeavours with a determined will to ameliorate the sufferings and hardships endured by its people. 

Even so, what clinches that strong appeal from people towards Congress Party in a particular way is the charisma exhibited by one and all.  What in effect could have made this party especially different from others?  A genuine pride!  The pride of having been shepherded by none other than charismatic leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Smt. Indira Gandhi, Shri Rajiv Gandhi and today these same people take pride in saluting that one lone female personality with tremendous grit and determination, who single handedly steered the nation to keep the flocks together under the banner of Congress Party.

Smt. Sonia Gandhi is today the UPA Chairperson managing the government under Congress Party.  She was named the third most powerful woman in the world by Forbes Magazine in 2004 and was ranked 6^th in 2007.  In 2010 Smt. Sonia Gandhi ranked 9^th as the most powerful person on the Planet by Forbes Magazine. She was also named among the Times 100 most influential people in the world during 2007 and 2008.  The New Statesman of Britain listed Smt. Sonia Gandhi as the 29^th among “The World’s Most Influential Figures” in the year 2010. 

In effect, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has equaled or suapassed the charisma held by her Mother-in-Law Smt. Indira Gandhi as the greatest personality in India as also around the world.  Indeed Smt. Sonia Gandhi has not only achieved laudable reputation but even a world renown in the most exemplary and effective manner. She made the nation proud, she made Congress Party proud and the world too stands overawed and wide-eyed at the manner in which this lady of shine reflected the glow of party to overshadow the nation with a living charismatic personality.  A sublime miracle for party, people and the nation to behold!

Indeed it is the charisma within the leaders who founded the party which emboldened the party workers and followers!  Charisma which made the founding fathers of the party to stand united for this long.  It is that very charisma which gets translated in to large heartedness among its followers.  That show of charisma which blooms both inside the party workers as well as towards others who come in to direct contact with the party.  Congress Party has been blessed to have high profile leaders with noble blood within them which, as a matter of fact, makes them portray that show of devotedness towards the nation and its people.

Congress Party possesses the necessary skill.  It has the necessary input, people of element, people with experience and people with vision. They are genuine Indians who carry along with them the entire nation with a focused mind and resolute determination.  They celebrate during moments of their joy but are in the forefront to take on adversaries when challenged by the foe and lend their hand of support in time of gloom.  Can a nation like India find better people on earth than the ones who carry the hand symbol for a party and enable the national tricolor flutter in the skies waving its colours of orange, white and green.  The orange colour depicting courage and sacrifice; white standing for truth, peace and purity, and green depicting prosperity with the ashoka chakra reminding people of the laws of righteousness.  Congress Party has always safeguarded the national flag which symbolizes the image of over 1.3 billions of its citizens? 

Congress Party is not merely a national party.  It is an international emblem as well.  Strategically the world identifies Congress Party as the core of Indian culture.  Congress Party is an all encompassing identity professing secular values, religious tolerance and upliftment of downtrodden with a determined resolve to settling all disputes or differences that may arise amicably and through peaceful means. 

Congress Party is viewed by outside world as the supreme force behind formation of governments in India year after year, term after term and era after era.  For the outside world Congress Party is an everlasting emblem portraying the shine of an unending chain of successes which make India stand out prominent as the largest democracy with a distinct show of oneness even in the face of an unending chain of diversities in its features. The world professes this fact and India on its part nods in acknowledgement as a mark of profound salutation to people who made India proud.

Indeed Congress Party was, is and will be always remembered as the torch that will carry the flame of invincible power to set the world alight for India to be one day counted as a nation second to none.  The architect of such a stunning victory will be none other than the one and only Congress Party.  In its electoral rolls there will always be a long line up of even the billionth Indian ever to have been born to proclaim himself not only as an Indian, but rather to affirm his identity as a devoted worker of Congress Party.  And history will proclaim the day, year, generation and era of such Indianness to proudly identify itself as the Congress Party era.

Congress Party has established roots in all four corners of India and its renown extends to every nook and corner of the world. 

Congress Party has a registered presence all over this vast country.   The followers of Congress Party deem it their bounden duty to lavish their wholeheartedness for the growth of people and the country.  The party has been unanimously forging ahead under a government set up by it with the cooperation of its like-minded allies.  However, there are teething troubles which need to be attended to.  There are priorities which have to be taken care of.  And primary among them being the uncalled for interference by segments of the very part and parcel of the government, which in effect, deem it their authoritarian right to poke in to the affairs of the government.  Should Constitution allow such high-handedness?  Or should the government act defiant to such manoeuvres by people acting

People have a notion that the government is there to work magic and they have the constitutional right to hammer down their demands. They have scant regard for priorities, the general good and future of the nation. It implies that the general public is unable to see eye to eye with honesty, reality and truth. To be precise, the public lack in judgment.  In their quest for a scapegoat, they frantically run around like headless cock to let go their fury at the first name that strikes uppermost in their minds.  And the closest and the easiest prey to pour their ire on to happen to be the government! Thanks!  Readers must read between the lines. Here is hard cash – take it or leave it!  A pause.

This is India and India, as everyone is well aware of, is abode to over 1.3 billion populace who would undoubtedly have only demands of endless nature.  But if the national Opposition or the general public deem it expedient to elect a government of their choice and then keep slamming it from all sides because their choice did not find acceptance and disallow the government from functioning in line with policies framed by them, then democracy loses meaning and all that might appear conducive to such a situation is to acknowledge failure for which a long drawn out freedom was fought by people of eminence. Can we all acknowledge this?

Rise up – for it is never too late – and acknowledge our loyalty to the nation and government.  Rise up to a new age.  Rise with a ray of hope.  Congress Party, the trusted ones of the dignified days of freedom struggle, the elite of Mahatma Gandhi’s chosen guild, the chosen ones of the independent India which stood undeterred to steer the nation clear of hurdles under a charismatic leader in Smt. Indira Gandhi followed by a dignified icon in Shri Rajiv Gandhi and which India made giant strides to this very day under the spectacular guidance of Smt. Sonia Gandhi is beckoning you to assert yourselves forthright.  Secularism is our symbol – secularism our emblem – secularism our birthright and secularism our guiding feature. 

Abide by the concept of secularism and the nation would make headway.  India is a crowd and we need to individually acknowledge that the crowd must set aside the idiosyncracies of yesteryears to stand firm and loyal with the government.  India is not without a government and the government was elected by its own people. So be forthright and act with it than against it.  Rise and take heed – it is in the interest of the nation, the people and that of India.