December 17, 2024
Sagarika Ghose’s speech on ‘Sovereignty’, as mentioned in the Preamble, during the Special Discussion on the 75th anniversary of adoption of the Constitution of India
Hon. Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, India is constituted as a Sovereign Republic. That is the Preamble of our Constitution. ‘Sovereign’ means independent legitimate rule. India is a Sovereign Independent country, but in a democracy, it is the citizen who is sovereign. The citizen is the ruler. All these times, from the Treasury Benches, we hear Jawaharlal Nehruji, Indira Gandhiji and court cases. We do not hear how this Government intends to uphold the sovereignty of the citizen, which is the prime teaching of the Constitution. Articles 19 to 22 establish the individual freedoms of every citizen. Articles 23 to 24 establish the citizen’s right against exploitation and coercion. Articles 25 to 28 establish freedom of conscience and freedom of religion for every citizen. But, is the sovereignty of the citizen being upheld today? No, Sir; it is not. When free speech is stamped out, when writers are charged with sedition, the citizen is not sovereign. When a Government is dictating to citizens what to wear, what to eat, who to marry, what to think, what to read, what to write, what movies to see, the citizen is not sovereign. When Gau Rakshaks attack and kill those who eat a certain kind of food, citizens are not sovereign. When so-called media managers are asked to remove or suspend journalists who tell the inconvenient truth, citizens are not sovereign. When a former BJP Chief Minister says if women dress a certain way, they are to be assaulted, citizens are not sovereign. When the BJP calls for economic boycott of Muslims, citizens are not sovereign. When voluntary interfaith marriages are called love jihad, citizens are not sovereign. When democratic institutions that are supposed to protect the citizens are subordinated to political power, citizens are not sovereign. The truth is; the BJP doesn’t understand constitutionalism. They only understand majoritarianism. And, majoritarianism is the enemy of constitutionalism. It is because of majoritarianism and that they don’t respect political diversity. States like Bengal have been denied funds since 2021. It is because of majoritarianism that today there is not a single Muslim Member in their Lok Sabha team in Parliament.… That is their majoritarianism, even though they say they are protecting Muslim women. It is because of majoritarianism that there were over 500 attacks on Christians. It is the majoritarian mindset that weaponizes the Enforcement Directorate and uses it to target the opposition eaders and once switch to the BJP are given washing machine! Sir, the Constitution gives sovereignty to the citizen. The Constitution gives sovereignty to the individual. The Constitution gives sovereignty to the people.
