Democracy has been hijacked: Abdussalam Puthige

Bengaluru, 30 Jan 2019 [Fik/News Sources]: Varthabharathi Editor-in-Chief Abdussalam Puthige said that “the democracy has been hijacked by rich in the country and it should be taken back. Our problems will be solved only through establishing the democratic system in the country”.

Speaking at the screening of documentary ‘Ammi’ and a special lecture in memory of Gauri Lankesh, organized by the Gauri Memorial Trust at the St. Joseph College here on Tuesday, he said that “most of the progressive thinkers and rationalists have been insisting that the government should be dethroned. We are disappointed due to communal government. But is there any alternative to this government? The leaders who identify themselves as the leaders of the secular political parties are not speaking about communalism and fundamentalism anywhere. They are not using the term ‘fascism’.

Those who worship Nathuram Godse are offering floral tributes to Gandhi and give lecture about the Father of the nation. Today we are observing Gauri Lankesh day who was killed by the same Pariwar. We have been celebrating the Republic Day on January 26. But unfortunately, the day remind us of the killing of the hope of an Independent India”, he said.

“The present system and the media have been representing the slavery as boss and covering up the reality. The people are kept under illusion with matters like Ram Mandir, mosque and talaq. We will not fight against the system till we assume ourselves as leaders. Without conflict we will not get freedom and justice very easily. Only conflict would ensure justice and it could be possible only through sacrifice. The justice we get at free of cost would not get implemented”, he said.

In India, just 1 per cent of people have control over 74 per cent of wealth. The number of people who die due to hunger in Somalia, Sudan and Uganda equals the number of deaths in one state in our country. Every day, 19 crore people sleep without food in the country.  “Manu Smriti and casteism are the real problems in the country. Till day, untouchability is existing in the society as more than 60-70 per cent people are still practicing it. Around six months back, the first citizen of the country Ramnath Kovind and his wife have also experienced the wrath of casteism. Unfortunately, the government has initiated inquiry into it after three months, which shows the intensity of casteism” he said.

In India, media has not remained as an independent entity. Globally, India is in 138th position in terms of independent media sector. The media which was supposed to be the mirror to the society has been shattered. Those who have control over the Parliament, Constitutional system and political parties have been controlling the media sector too. They do not want to make money out of it. But they want to control the entire society, he said.

Rationalists Prof Babu Mathew and Nagaragere Ramesh, Trust member VS Sridhar, advocate Balan, JNU student Najeeb’s mother Fatima, Gauri Lankesh's sister Kavitha Lankesh and others were present.