New Delhi: The Communist Party of India (CPI-M) on Monday hailed the call given by eight prominent personalities from different fields for 'safeguarding the constitution.'
"We welcome the call given by prominent personalities from different fields. This assumes significance at a time when the entire country is witnessing unabated violence in the name of religion and others... this call is very significant," said former CPM MP Hannan Mollah to ETV Bharat.
Personalities like Justice J Cheameswar (former SC judge), SY Quereshi (former CEC), Lt Gen Harcharanjit Singh Panag (former army commander), Adoor Gopalakrishnan (International filmmaker), Sharmila Tagore (noted film personality), TM Krishna (Carnatic musician), Sukhdeo Thorat ( former UGC chairman) and Syeda Hameed (former member, planning commission) have called for peace and unity coinciding the 70th year of Indian Constitution.
These personalities have said that seventy years of Constitution provides us with an opportunity to celebrate our success, and also to introspect and resolve to overcome our shortcomings.
"Is the Constitution a mere administrative manual which enables the elected government to claim legitimacy for abuse of power, and allows the citizens to convert liberty into license disregarding rights of others? Is it simply another text penned by ink, or a sacred text written in the blood of innumerable martyrs who transcended the barriers of caste, religion, region, ethnicity and language?" he questioned.
They further said, "The 70th anniversary of the Republic is an appropriate moment to celebrate and introspect by peacefully observing the Birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (January 23), Foundation Day of the Election commission celebrated as the National Voters Day (January 25), the Republic Day (January 26), and the martyrdom of the Father of the Nation (January 30)."
Mollah said that this call assumes much more significance following the fact that India, at present, has been witnessing unprecedented protest and violence on several issues.
"The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is one such religious move adopted by the government to divide the country on the basis of religion...people across India are opposing the move," he asserted.
Criticising the central government, Mollah alleged that BJP and RSS are 'breaking laws' and in this situation, the country should come united for safeguarding the Constitution.
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