Where is our nation heading?

The people who represent the government must realise that Democracy is not a tool in the hands of the majority to suppress and browbeat the minority at will, but a system which protects and safeguards the interests and wellbeing of the minorities as well. It is evident that the government of the day has passed draconian laws to create fear psychosis and insecurity in the minds of minorities. 

The growing protests all over the country against the Citizenship Amendment Act has turned into an youth movement. Many students who were arrested have alleged that they were tortured in police custody. Every citizen of the country has a constitutional right to protest peacefully against the divisive policies of the government. If our students have been detained and brutally attacked, then there is no voice and future for them in our country. If the government intends to suppress their voices, then we are definitely heading for a difficult situation in the years to come.

Today our youth are unemployed, farmers are committing suicide, the GDP is falling, prices of almost all commodities are rising, factories are being closed down due to failure of demonetisation and GST. Instead of concentrating on the growth of our economy, the government is determined to enact unconstitutional law which is against the principle of the Constitution of our country which will jeopardise the lives of millions of people.

What tributes are we paying to the Mahatma on his 150th birth anniversary, the great soul who taught the whole world to protest peacefully to fight for their basic rights?

Mahatma Gandhi was against the Divide and Rule Policy. We the citizens of this country have made Mahatma the Father of our Nation, but, sad to say, we have betrayed his great legacy and perfected the British policy of Divide and Rule into a fine art.

Our 'netas' are dividing our citizens on the basis of religion, caste and creed. Some people are falling for their hidden agenda of divide and rule policy. There is a well-known saying - "United we stand, divided we fall." But in today's situation, it appears that the reverse is true: "If divided we stand, united we fall."

India has always believed in plural culture. Pluralism is India's strength. Different religious, linguistic and tribal groups give India a unique identity. We must be proud that our forefathers were visionaries to think ahead to draft the Indian Constitution for accommodating and protecting the cultural rights for minorities; thus achieving a long standing acclaim before the whole world.

There are parties which are polarising the society based on religion   one nation, one language, one culture is not healthy politics. It will affect the growth of our nation. We already see that due to wrong business policies and insecure and fearful living environment it is costing India on economic front. Our Nation is already one nation through diversified culture and it will be good for our country if it remains this way. 

Article 14 of the Constitution has given a life of dignity and equality for every citizen and hence no one can discriminate on the basis of religion. The ongoing protest against CAA is the very fight to protect the idea of India as expressed in its Constitution.

Some people are hell bent on creating a society based on disharmony, ill-will, hatred and revenge. And it is spreading at an alarming rate. Revenge is ugly. It means falling to the level of the lowest of the low. Love is secular and a great healer. By forgiving others, you are forgiving yourself. If you cannot forgive, you cannot love, if you cannot love, you cannot forgive.

To be revengeful towards anybody is to be revengeful towards God. To think of someone as your enemy is to make God your enemy. 

Let us all ask our govt to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act and give this gesture as a New Year gift to all Indians irrespective of their caste and creed. Let us remember that we are not going to be forever on this Earth. One day our time will come to leave whether Indian or foreign and say goodbye to this planet. Till then, let us live in love, peace and harmony as members of one United Family. Jai Ho!