POLITICS
In a recent event at RSS camp, Nagpur Former President Pranab Mukherjee addressed a gathering which caught the attention of the national media. The Congress apprehension turned into contentment as the event time came closer.
The New Leam Staff
In his recent visit to the RSS event at Nagpur, Former President Pranab Mukherjee raised a great national debate regarding the legitimacy of his Nagpur visit and the validity of his pluralistic and diversity centric speech delivered at the ideological parent organisation of the BJP. What cannot be denied is the fact that the Congress was apprehensive about the speech and shocked by his decision to accept the invite in the first place.
After the speech a lot of dilemmas have been cleared and the Congress is displaying a sense of relief. BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav tweeted -“Great address by Dr Pranab Mukharjee at Nagpur. His address and Dr Bhagwat’s address are in a way complementary to each other. Nation First is the core message of both.”
Pranab Mukherjee’s speech highlighted India’s inclusiveness, pluralism and unity and asserted that India‘s nationhood is not dependent on singular ethnic, religious, lingual or cultural roots.
The Congress was unhappy by Pranab’s decision to address the RSS but expressed contentment after the speech culminated.
The Congress started with amused silence about the former president’s decision to attend the event. Several leaders in the Congress expressed discontent including Mukherjee’s daughter and finally came relief after the former president delivered a pointed speech.
Mukherjee said, “The soul of India resides in pluralism and tolerance. Secularism and inclusion is a matter of faith for us. India’s nationhood is not one language, one religion, one nation.”
Congress leader and Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee expressed her discontent regarding Pranab attending the function.
The former President’s daughter asserted that his speech would be forgotten but the visuals will remain and be misused by the BJP’s ‘dirty tricks department’.
Congress leader Anand Sharma tweeted “The images of Pranab Da, veteran leader and ideologue at RSS Headquarters have anguished millions of Congress workers and all those who believed in pluralism, diversity and the foundational values of the Indian Republic.”
Post Pranab Mukherjee’s speech the Congress felt relaxed and emphasised upon the beauty of his speech and claimed it had shown a mirror to the BJP.The message that the speech has given is of an inclusive India which is tolerant, multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-cultural.
Several leaders of the UPA allies showed discontent about his decision to go for the event. West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury questioned the need for Mukherjee to go to the RSS event.
In the context of political polarisation that is prevalent in the nation today is it justified to start the regime of political untouchably by labelling certain platforms untouchable? We cannot deny the fact that political untouchability will lead to lack of collective work for the wellbeing of the nation, several platform have to be utilised to address and empower the masses.
The speech delivered by Pranab Mukherjee laid emphasis on diversity, pluralism, multiculturalism, harmony and this should be seen as a positive step for cross ideology interaction.
***
