Advocate and human rights activist Prashant Bhushan delivering the memorial speech of MP Veerendrakumar, in Kozhikode on Sunday. , Photo credits: K. Ragesh
Supreme Court lawyer and human rights activist Prashant Bhushan came down heavily on the BJP government at the Center for “blatant denial of the secular nature of the country”.
Delivering a speech on the topic ‘Majoritarianism and the Secular State: Compatible Concept’ at the commemoration of MP Virendrakumar in Kozhikode on Sunday, Mr. Bhushan said that the central government by supporting a particular religion and promoting communalism is breaking the basic principles of the nation.
“BJP claims it is a Hindu nation where Muslims have no right to live or vote. Churches and mosques are regularly burnt down, and minorities are suppressed through claims of love jihad and fake encounters,” he alleged, adding that the government is continuing its hatred and hatred against Muslims even while granting citizenship. Was open to prejudice.
“Equality, liberty, justice and fraternity, all are in danger. So are scientific temperament and independent thinking,” Mr Bhushan said, pointing to the changes made in the school curriculum.
He alleged that those in power have compromised the judiciary, media, police, investigative agencies, universities and even the Election Commission in many ways. “They are interfering in the appointment of judges so that independent judges are not appointed. The media has been brought under its control by not giving government advertisements, by luring money, by torturing it to the extent of subordination. In this way many became ‘Godi Media’ [lap dogs]”, he alleged.
Mr. Bhushan said that India is lagging behind in all development indicators including poverty and media freedom. Stating that all the fundamental values mentioned in the Preamble of the Constitution have been destroyed, he urged the youth of the country to enter the fray to uphold the life and livelihood of the nation.
“The BJP may lose 200 seats in the next Lok Sabha elections, but it has succeeded in poisoning the minds of most people,” he said.