Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Feb 14: “After independence, the governments who ruled India failed to understand the soul of our Constitution and thinking of Dr B R Ambedkar. The policies which they implemented paved way for a more social inequality. Adding to this, now the people who rule us, are trying to impose unethical and class society-based ideas through their policies on citizens,” said P Sainath, veteran journalist, media activist and winner of Ramon Magsaysay award.

Sainath was speaking at the inaugural event of ‘Media Manthan 2020’, a two-day national level media fest at St Aloysius College on February 14.

Continuing his key note address he said, “Democracy is facing crisis in different parts of the world and particularly so in India in different ways and forms. This crisis has directly affected lives and social set up of our country. Aiming for social and economic equality, Dr B R Ambedkar placed many supporting elements and objectives for this. These objectives ensure justice, liberty, equality to all citizens and teach to promote fraternity to maintain unity and integrity of the nation. But the policy makers completely trashed the term ‘social and economic equality’. They made policies for rich people and corporate world and snatched economic freedom from the poor, artisans and farmers.

“In India, literally each policy offers employment and economic development. But when it comes to practical, a single one is not produced. Economic development is only put around millionaires. Without any mercy, these millionaires and governments are grabbing the land of poor and farmers. They always target rural area for their financial growth and with false promises, they cheat the poor.

“Governments and its ministers, who also do not believe in our Constitution, are directly responsible for the current social and economic inequality in India. If we take example of banning cow slaughter, we can understand this motive clearly. Maharashtra government banned cow slaughter with a particular communal agenda. But by this they targeted the butchers, majority of who are from Muslim community and mainly Dalits. But it resulted in a big downfall in the economy of Maharashtra. When drought hit rural areas of Maharashtra, the farmers suffered. When they thought to sell their cattle in the market for balancing their financial condition, there were no buyers. It put them in more trouble. Cattle were left dead in front of them without feed. This is the current situation in India where policy makers indirectly trying to curb the society with foolish ideas and hidden agendas.

“These days, youths have started to question these corporate world-oriented policies made by governments. They are coming on the streets with placards with the message ‘We are protectors of our Constitution’. Many are coming to the support of these protesters who are fighting to protect the Indian Constitution. It is the need of the hour,” he said.

In his introductory speech, Fr Praveen Martis, principal, St Aloysius College said, “In any type of democracy, public opinion is pendulum of governance and its smooth running. Without public opinion, a democratic state cannot make policies and implement it. We can consider media and other digital platforms as the easiest tools of public opinion. Through this, we can express our views and suggestions for healthy governance. P Sainath is one of the known faces who always stood with people and became their voice through his profession and mission. For the first time, he is visiting our college and it is a proud moment for us. I thank the Post Graduate department of Journalism and Mass Communication for bringing a wonderful personality to our campus.”

Fr Melwyn Pinto, HOD, welcomed the dignitaries and gathering.

Fr Dionysius Vas, rector, SAC, Divyashree Shetty, staff coordinator, Harshita Vargheese, Vaishali Putran and student coordinators were present.