Mangaluru: ’Hindu nation concept negates spiritual essence of India’

Mangaluru: ’Hindu nation concept negates spiritual essence of India’

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 21, 2015: Former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari said “the concept of ‘Hindu Nation’ completely negates the spiritual essence of India.”

 

He was delivering his inaugural address at a seven-day workshop on ‘Democratic Political Leadership,’ organised by Mangalore University’s Academic Committee of Nehruvian Thought to mark the 125th birth anniversary of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru at Mangalagangothri on Thursday.

“One must remember that Pakistan, which was formed in the name of religion in 1947, split in the name of language in 1971 and is now assaulted by the same snakes which were nurtured in its backyard,” Tewari added.

He further said, “former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru conceptualised the idea of a nation committed to secular and inclusive democracy, sovereignty and pro-poor orientations, in the backdrop of diversity, economic complexity and social fabric of India. Neither did he want India to be an authoritative or capitalist state nor to be a nation formed on the basis of any particular religion. Nehru had strongly felt that a government needs to deal with minority in a civilised manner, providing them security and bestowing on them, their democratic rights.

Presenting a contrast between the Nehruvian model of economy and the present model of economy, he felt there was a strong need for the government to return to the commanding heights of Indian economy. “Unfortunately, the core infrastructure areas have been recording a negative growth from the last six months, owing to poor economic policies,” he stated.

Making a reference to the draft CAG report, he said, the private power distribution process is an example for exposition economic model wherein one derives resources from the pockets of the poorer of the poor, in order to fill the coffers of rich. Also, there is a case for renationalisation of oil and natural gas sector, where acreages of natural resources have been plundered to fill private pockets, the former minister added.

“Nehru’s economic policies are being subjected to criticisms. In reality, it was because of his vision that, the nation, which had zero per cent of GDP growth between 1900 and 1947, was able to catch up with an average growth of 4.10 per cent between 1951 and 1965. During the first three five year plans, the index of industrial production grew almost by 300 percent. Also, the food grain production increased by 1.14 per cent annually. There was an increase of 70 per cent in domestic and consumer goods industry. One must remember that Nehru inherited an exploited economic model and had a challenge before him, to recover the shattered economy,” Tewari added.

Vice Chancellor Prof K Byrappa presided over the programme and said the University will chalk out programmes to mark birth anniversary celebrations of National leaders and freedom fighters, in the days to come.

District in-Charge Minister B Ramanath Rai, Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Anniversary Celebration Committee General Secretary P V Mohan, Mangalore University Registrar Prof P S Yedapadithaya, Jawaharlal Nehru University Professor Prof Valerian Rodrigus, Academic Committee for Nehruvian Thoughts Convener Rajaram Tholpadi, Syndicate Member Prasanna Kumar Rai, G Shankar Family Trust Chairman Dr G Shankar and others  were present.
 

 

Courtesy: DHNS