Controversy by a minister on President’s speech is unacceptable as a norm

In a country like ours which is not only the largest democracy of the world but also a true secular nation where all the religions, cultures, languages, castes, communities and traditions co exist incidents and attempts of creating controversies on the minority verses majority basis by unnecessarily raking up history of centuries, should be dealt with severely. Similarly, any attempt to create divisions on the caste, communal or religious lines should be democratically countered.

The incident of the President’s address in the Karnataka Assembly the other day, is in the news these days with certain politicians, particularly a minister at the centre representing Karnataka trying to create unnecessary controversies on Honourable President Ram Nath Kovind’s address downgrading him, rather, allegedly amounts to constitutional breach.

It may be recalled that the newly elected President of India at the behest of the BJP n NDA, Ram Nath Kovind had the other day while addressing the joint house of Karnataka Assembly, earlier Mysore, has lauded the then King of Mysore Tipu Sultan as a Hero who fought the Britishers most valiantly and sacrificed his life in the war against the British.

He even appreciated Tipu Sultan calling him a hostoric figure who invented indigenous rockets then used against the British army to enable them bite the dust. This indeginous rocket technology was later on used to develop hi tech rockets by the Europeans, the president added. The British Army got defeated against Tipu who finally died while fighting them most valiantly and relentlessly on the battlefield .

One of the BJP ministers’ had raised serious objections on the praise of Tipu by Honourable President and termed the former as anti Hindu, the traitor and rapist saying that the honorable President had to praise Tipu Sultan as the speech was prepared by the Karnataka government praising Tipu Sultan as a Heroic figure than the traitor who according to this BJP minister was an anti Hindu traitor and rapist. Sounds shocking to pass such public comments against the constitutional head of the country.

The point is our honourable president is a qualified and well read personality who had been a practising lawyer in Delhi High Court and apex court of India before being appointed as the governor of Bihar. Casting such objectionable comments on the speech of the constitutional head of the state to gather cheap publicity and downgrading his stature by belying or underminig his statement is a serious intentional lapse and should be dealt with severely in party forum.

The president is the first citizen of the country and carries a veto power. Therefore no lawmaker either MP, Minister, MLA or even PM could pass derogatory comment on his speech. One must also not forget that after assuming the pivotal office of president of India the first citizen no more remains the nominee of any party.

Our learned politicians of the country should therefore exercise restraint while raking up the historical issues that are now several centuries old and march ahead towards peace, amity and hi tech development of our secular nation with renewed energy, potential and enthusiasm. It is high time that our politicians and political parties should give up medieval and orthodox mindset and constructively move forward towards the 21st century.

SUNIL NEGI