The Introductory Speech of S R Hiremath, President of CFD, at the Golden Jubilee Conference of CFD, on April 19, 2025. I extend a very hearty welcome to you all to this Golden Jubilee Conference of Citizens For Democracy (CFD). The Citizens For Democracy (CFD) was founded in 1974 by Lokanayak Jayaprakash Nayayan* (‘JP’ as he is fondly remembered), who brought together distinguished Jurists, Advocates, Journalists, Social Activists, Educationists and others, 50 years ago at this very place: Gandhi Peace Foundation (GPF), for the two day founding Conference on April 13-14, 1974, under his President ship. After the Founder President, Jayaprakash Narayan, Justice M C Chagla, Prof. V V John, Justice V M Tarkunde, Kuldip Nayar and S R Hiremath have been its successive Presidents.
2. The CFD was formed in 1974 in response to the political, economic and moral
crisis that was prevailing in the country. The dark clouds of authoritarian trends were gathering on the political horizon of India since the election of Mrs. Indira Gandhi as the Prime Minister due to the landslide victory in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections; There was a systematic and concerted attempt to control the Judiciary by the Political Executive; for example, three senior most Judges of the Supreme Court were superseded and a pliable Judge was appointed as the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in April 1973, soon after the land mark Judgment of 13-Judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, was delivered on the basic features of the Constitution, what is popularly known as the Keshavanand Bharati case.
As Justice V M Tarkunde said in his introductory speech on April 13, 1974: "….. Although the crisis expresses itself in general political instability and great economic
hardship, it is basically a moral crisis, characterized by loss of idealism in politics. I read in USA with great interest a detailed article about the JP Movement by Kushwant Singh
in the weekly Sunday Magazine of the New York Times in March 1975.which led to our active interest in forming the Group: Indians For Democracy in the US for restoration of democracy and gross corruption from top to bottom in all public affairs. In the nature of things, political parties cannot be expected to be the means of moral regeneration. On the contrary, their struggle for power has the effect of depressing moral standards. These considerations bring out the necessity of an all India organization, which will not be a political party, but which will strive to put an element of reality into the empty form of democracy which continues to exist in the country." (emphasis mine)
3. The main objective of Citizens For Democracy (CFD) is to preserve, defend and strengthen democracy in the country. It also works for the attainment of the higher ideal of a comprehensive political, economic and social democracy. It strives to bring together all those who cherish the democratic values of liberty, equality and fraternity and who are not interested in power politics. Background of my meeting with JP and association with CFD: It is perhaps relevant here to mention briefly that while I was in the United States of America (USA) for nearly 11 years during 1968 to 1979 [doing my Master’s degree for one year and working for ten years for Corporate America in the field of Operations Research-OR] in Chicago area, I was also actively involved (i) in founding an organization in Chicago, called India Development Service (IDS) in January 1974 for supporting the Rural Development work in India and (ii) also by working with an organization called Indians For Democracy (IFD) in 1975 for restoration of democracy in India by mobilizing the international public opinion against the emergency rule by Mrs. Indira Gandhi (June 1975-March 1977); It was during this period in the mid-1970s that Prof Anand Kumar (who was then doing his PhD in at University of Chicago) and I became close friends, that is continuing lifelong. We both were on the National Steering Committee of IFD and for our work with the IFD, the Govt of Mrs. Gandhi ‘rewarded’ us by cancelling Anad Kumar’s national merit scholarship and by impounding my passport. My working with the IFD helped me learn more about our illustrious Indian Freedom Movement, how it not only inspired us in India for attaining Swaraj from the British Rule but also inspired the Civil Rights Movement in USA led by Dr Martin Luther King and the Movement for democracy in South Africa by Nelson Mandela, by dismantling the cruel Apartheid. Most significantly, because of IFD, I could meet with JP in Seattle, Washington in May 1977 while he was there for health reasons and later in India again in June 1979, when I met him in Bombay;
When he asked me, why I decided to work in rural area, I said that the last Speech of Dr. B R Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly in November 1949 (for eliminating social and economic inequalities at the earliest) and the Quit India Resolution of August 1942 and the call of Mahatma Gandhi to millions of young people of India; It was very apparent that he was most moved by it and blessed me with a hug. This meeting turned out to be the most memorable and heart touching experience for me, before my going to Karnataka for my Rural Development work.
It was incidentally in the same meeting, when I sought his advice, as the Janata Party Government was not doing well and that there were signs of Mrs. Gandhi coming back to power, he advised me to contact Justice V M Tarkunde and join CFD and take active interest, which is what I did and got associated with the CFD lifelong.
4. REDEDICATION to the ideals and work of CFD: As we have gathered here for the Golden Jubilee Conference of CFD, we should not only take stock of our journey over the last fifty years and analyze them for the lessons learnt, it is equally and in fact, more important that we rededicate ourselves to the ideals of the organization and to take up, in all earnestness, the present challenges before the nation and actively involve the next generation for the tasks ahead.
While we should take inspiration from the historic role played by CFD during the draconian emergency rule of the then PM: Mrs. Indira Gandhi and thereafter (well documented in the 24-page CFD Booklet: ‘PURPOSE AND PROGRAMS’’), there is an urgent need for us to know about the present grave situation prevailing in India: ‘Undeclared Emergency’ since 2014 and take up the challenges, short and long term, building on whatever we have done particularly in the last 11 years, briefly delineated later in this paper.
”The true building up of swaraj (Self-government) consists in the millions of India wholeheartedly working for a constructive program…. It is our duty always to wipe out our unemployment, to bridge the gulf between the rich and the poor, to banish communal strife, to exorcise the demon of untouchability, to reform the Decoits (armed bandits) and save the people from them. If scores of people do not take a living interest in this nation-building work, freedom must remain a dream…”
5. PRESENT GRAVE SITUATION IN INDIA and the Modi-Shah Govt at the Centre: As you all know, there is a grave situation in India since 2014, with the advent of the BJP government at the centre, led by PM: Narendra Modi and backed by the Sangh Parivar, led by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS); The Govt led by Modi-Shah duo, has been deliberately and willfully spreading communal strife, leading to social disharmony as they are targeting the minorities (Muslims and Christians, in particular), on one hand and the sustained assault on the Constitution, its values and also on the Constitutional and Statutory institution and economic deprivation for the working people and marginalized sections of society, with high unemployment, inflation and increasing high levels of inequalities, (reminiscent of the colonial rule period, to an extent that the State has never seen in the post-independence period; in fact, the inequalities in 2024 are at the level that existed in 1922 during British Rule) by supporting the infrastructure and pro-corporate policies and programs, on the other. Our society had struggled hard to maintain the separation of religion from politics. But it is being subjected to destruction and devastation through unconstitutional, communal and undemocratic measures of the Modi-Shah regime who have politicized and poisoned the religious beliefs of common people and made it their political instrument.
Modi-Shah regime derives their inspiration and also guidelines-directions from their mentor organization, namely, the RSS, which does not believe in democracy, equality, human rights and Social justice. Their agenda is to convert India into a ‘Hindu Rastra’. Their Communalism has no place in secular, democratic, inclusive and egalitarian India. Chaturvarna is the very negation of our basic principles, namely, liberty, equality and fraternity enshrined in our Constitution, especially the Directive Principles of State Policy. It is this challenge that we need to take up through a long term Cultural Movement to deal with, what I call as the ‘retrograde’ and ‘dangerous’ ideology of the RSS.
5.1: 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha Elections: Modi came to power twice (2014 and 2019) with clear majority by instigating religious fervour and invoking emotional feelings of people and by deluding people with false promises like two crore jobs a year, Rs.15 lakhs to the bank account of every Indian after bringing back black money from the foreign banks, promise of doubling the farmers’ income etc. No other PM in India since 1950, has ever used religion for political purpose, as brazenly and systematically, as Modi-Shah regime has been doing since 2014 and continuing to do so. They have no respect for political decency and constitutional principles.
5.2: 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: In fact, the Modi-Shah regime was boasting before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with a slogan: “Abki baar, char sou par” and continuing their tirade against the minorities especially Muslims in the 2024 campaign. But the wise people of this country, who are slowly but certainly realizing the true nature of the Modi-Shah regime, cut them to their size in the 2024 LS elections and put them in their place by denying them a majority by a clear 32 seats, i.e., BJP could only win 240 MPs, (32 seats short of simple majority; 272; As a senior Journalist put it in his book aptly: “2024 (Lok Sabha Election) is in a league of its own. It produced a mandate that revealed both the strengths and limitations of Indian democracy. In a Sense, it was the year when humility trumped hubris, when conceit Surrendered to courage, when cynicism was eclipsed by hope, when a Diversity dividend scored over homogeneity…Millions of anonymous Voters bear the brunt of a grossly unequal society in silence, but they know how and when to strike back in their own quiet, dignified way”. But, alas, the Opposition Parties did not have their act together and a good alternate narrative, that could put an end to the misrule of Modi-Shah Govt and there was no person with JP’s standing who could bring them all together and put an end to the ‘undeclared Emergency’ and restore democracy.
6. CFD Activities since 2014: In consultation with then President of CFD, Shri Kuldip Nayar, who had actively participated in the environmental and democratic activities in Karnataka from the late 1980s, four of us: Puttannaiah, Devanoor Mahadev, Raghavendra Kustagi and myself from CFD, we began our efforts in earnest to bring together the various people’s movements like Dalit Sangarsh Samiti, Farmers Movements etc in to Janandolagal Maha Maitri (JMM) in 2016; These efforts laid the foundation for a collective strength that we could not only support the historic Farmers Movements against the three black laws (anti-farmer and pro-Corporate) of the Modi-Shah Govt brought through the Ordinance route in June 2020 during the pandemic (Covid-19).All these efforts led to the formation of Samyukta Horata-Karnataka, consisting of the left and pro-farmer and pro-working peoples’ groups. JMM, in close association with the CFD has raised its powerful voice and organized protests and Jathas for the cause of farmers, farm labourers, working people and for the protection of Constitution in association with Samyuktha Horata- Karnataka(SHK) from Basavakalyan, Bidar district and other places in Karnataka to Bangalore, Besides, we protested when the Modi-Shah Government arrested the best of our intellectuals and Social Workers, under the garb of UAPA (just as Indira Gandhi did under MISA), like Dr. Anand Teltumbde, Prof Sai Baba and Father Stan Swamy who have devoted their life for the cause of the nation and the downtrodden people like the dalits, tribals etc. , JMM, CFD et al also organized; All India Round Table Conference and People`s Livelihood Convention’ on “Role of Civil Society in the context of Political Crisis” at Gandhi Bhavan, Bangalore to discuss and deliberate People`s Livelihood issues on June 25-26, 2022 in which Prof. Anand Kumar (from Goa), S R Darapuri (from Lucknow, UP), Datta Desai (Pune) and N D Pancholi (New Delhi) participated actively. It has also organized the ‘All India Anubhava Mantapa’ in September 2023 to debate and discuss the prevailing social, economic and political conditions in the background of 12 th Century Basavanna`s philosophy.
ALL this, in its own way, created a conducive environment for concerted Civil Society Actions that defeated BJP`s ‘Double Engine Government’ decisively in 2023 Legislative Assembly election in Karnataka. On the eve of 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, the CFD published a comprehensive 28-page booklet: PEOPLE’S CHARGE SHEET AGAINST MODI-SHAH GOVERNMENT which is being distributed here as part of the registration in this Golden Jubilee Conference.
7.WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NEXT, viz., WAY FORWARD: In this regard, I am enclosing my 19-page paper (which deals with this topic in detail) entitled: “Indian Constitution and Contemporary Society: Challenges before us and possible Solutions”. It was the Inaugural Address delivered on November 26, 2023 (Constitution Day) for a two-month (November 26, 2023 to January 26, 2024) lecture series, under the auspices of Dr. B R Ambedkar Centre for Research and Extension, University of Mysore, Mysore; In summary, it consists of both (i) Short term Action Plan for Decisive Defeat of BJP/NDA in the 2029 Lok Sabha Elections and (ii) Long term action plan for initiating an effective National Cultural Movement to defeat the Sangha Parivar forces (RSS), while building a New Idea of India that is people-nature centric, on an ethical foundation:
6.1: For the short term Action Plan, we must begin working immediately and earnestly for a decisive defeat of BJP/NDA in the 2029 LS Elections by working out urgently an effective plan of action, by working with all individuals and organizations on a high priority. Here we can learn from our past experiences: (ii) How we in Karnataka* dealt with State Assembly Elections in 2023* and (iii) How some States like UP, West Bengal, Maharastra etc did in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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PLEASE SEE in the GJC bag the 28-page Booklet entitled: ‘Lok Sabha Elections 2024: PEOPLE’S CHARGE SHEET AGAINST MODI-SHAH GOVERNMENT’ by Citizens For Democracy (CFD) et al (2024). This also gives a brief account (under ‘Introduction’ section), of the activities of CFD since 2014. Some selected refrences given at the end will be helpful..
6.2: As for the long term Action Plan: As we know, there is a similar grave situation worldwide, with the advent of right-wing forces and the climate change becoming climate emergency, taking the earth to the brink of disaster, on one hand and the world peace being threatened like in Ukraine and the middle east, we have to rededicate ourselves to ideals of CFD to deal with the new challenges effectively, both here in India and worldwide, by bringing together all similar-minded individuals and organizations including people’s movements and networks , building systematically on what we and similar- minded organizations have already done so far.
One very crucial area is to deal with the money power in the elections, among other concerns. We need to build on what the CFD had initiated in 1974 itself. For example, the 11-point Plan of Action was adopted in 1974 that included, among other things, to suggest an alternative to the present electoral system. In August 1974 itself, JP, as the President of CFD, appointed a Committee, with detailed Terms of Reference, under the Chairmanship of Justice V M Tarkunde, with eminent members like P G Malvankar, M R Masani, A G Noorani, Prof. K D Desai and EPW de Costa (Convenor) to study and report on the necessity of electoral reforms. The Committee presented its Report in February 1975; Since there was a considerable body of public opinion in the country which favored the view that, in order to reduce money power in Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections, the Government should defray the election expenses of all candidates. Again, as per the suggestion of JP, the CFD decided on August 13, 1977 to set up a Committee, again under the chairmanship of Justice V M Tarkunde, with members: M R Masani, PG Malvankar, Surendra Mohan and Prof. K D Desai, as Member Secretary who submitted their Report. The Committee, known as the CFD Committee on Election Expenses, made its Report on March 19, 1978, The CFD’s work on Election Reforms inspired two important developments later, viz., (i) The Goswami Committee Report of 1990, headed by Shri Dinesh Goswami, then Union Minister for Law and Justice, under the V P Singh Government in 1989, who submitted a detailed Report Committee on Election Expenses, which was published by the Govt and (ii) Indrajit Gupta Committee Report of 1998 proposed the State sponsorship of elections and more recently (iii) Citizens’ Commission on Elections (CCE) with Justice Madan B. Lokur, as the Chairman which critically examined all the aspects of conducting 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, thus highlighting several shortcomings in the existing system. The said Report with several articles is published in the Book: Electoral Democracy?: An Inquiry into the Fairness and Integrity of Elections in India, Edited by M G Devasahayam and published byPARANJOY (2022).
8. Conclusion: As I conclude my Introductory Speech and as we get ready to face the greatest challenges both in India and worldwide, as part of our way forward, I urge us all to derive inspiration and strength from the following quotes of (i) Mahatma Gandhi [when he launched the nationwide Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) for independence against the British Empire], (ii) Dr B R Ambedkar, the Chief Architect of our Constitution, at the end of his inaugural address of the All India Depressed Classes Conference on July 18- 19, 1942 in Nagpur, leading to the formation of the All India Scheduled Castes Federation, to continue to fight for freedom and a life of dignity and self respect for the dalits against the centuries old exploitation, indignation and injustice from the caste Hindus and (iii) Nelson Mandela, the longest Political Prisoner in history when he walked out of the prison on Robben Island in South Africa [from his autobiography: Long Walk To Freedom] : “Real Swaraj will not come from acquisition of power by the few but the capacity of many to resist when the power is abused”: Mahatma Gandhi;
“My final words of advice to you is to educate, agitate and organize; have faith in youself.
With justice on our side, I do not see how we can lose our battle. The battle to me is a
matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social
in it. For ours is a battle, not for wealth or for power. It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle
for the reclamation of the human personality”*: Dr. B R Ambedkar “It was during those long and lonely years (on Robben island) that my hunger for the freedom of my own people became a hunger for the freedom of all people, White and black. I knew as well as I knew anything that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred, he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else’s freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity. When I walked out of prison, that was my mission, to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor both”: Nelson Mandela.
Lastly, as President of CFD, I am convinced more than ever before, that the CFD has the potential to guide the country to meet the challenge of Reform of Political System to make it participatory and people friendly. It can start focusing on the Electoral and Democratic Reforms, building on the Tarkunde Committee Reports and others that followed, strengthening Constitutional and Statutory Institutions like the Election Commission of India (who have lost all credibility especially during the Modi-Shah Government), based on the land mark Judgments of the Constitutional Benches of the Supreme Court. I appeal to you all and all similar minded individuals and organizations in various parts of the country to come together and do your best to involve actively the next generation and imbibe the values of democracracy and the spirit of our constitution. These all will play their own role in defeating the BJP/NDA decisively in the next Lok Sabha Elections in 2029 and also begin a National Cultural Movement to defeat the retrograde and dangerous ideology of the RSS and also evolve a new idea of India that is nature-people centric.
