Democracy serves all
India’s High Commissioner Dr K. J. Srinivasa
India’s High Commissioner Dr K. J. Srinivasa

– says Indian high commissioner on Constitution Day

By Rabindra Rooplall
DEMOCRACY allows every citizen of a country the right to cast a vote and choose their leaders, irrespective of their caste, colour, creed, religion or gender and it is the common people of the country in their wisdom and awareness who determine the success or failure of the government.

This is according to India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr K. J. Srinivasa during his remarks on Tuesday evening in observance of India’s 70th Constitution Day and Citizens Duties Campaign.

Constitution Day is also celebrated as National Law Day (or Samvidhan Diwas) in India.
The event was held at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), Bel Air, Georgetown.

Dr Srinivasa explained that Constitution Day is celebrated on November 26 every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India.
“The Constitution is the supreme law of India. It is the longest written Constitution of any sovereign country in the world, containing 448 articles in 25 parts, 12 schedules and 97 amendments,” the envoy noted.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has drawn up an elaborate plan to mark the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution.

A section of the gathering at the event on Tuesday (Delano Williams photo)

Dr Srinivasa said November 26 was marked as the Constitution Day of India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the year 2015 as part of year-long celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar.

“Constitution Day of India aims to bring awareness on the importance of the Indian Constitution and its architect, Dr B R Ambedkar. Dr Ambedkar was a renowned social reformer, politician and jurist and is also called the Father of the Indian Constitution. He was appointed chairman of the Constitution drafting committee on August 29, 1947,” the envoy said.

The Constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, assuring its citizens justice, equality and liberty, and endeavours to promote fraternity.
“We are also celebrating the rich democratic values and traditions of the largest democracy in the world. India celebrates its elections as a ‘festival of democracy’ and it was visible in the recent May 2019 general elections, wherein over 600 million voters took part,” he said.
He explained that democracy has been flourishing in India during the past seven decades since it attained independence from the British colonial rule in 1947.

“Since then, India has celebrated 70 long years in its life and maintained its democratic values and traditions without affecting its core values and principles,” Dr Srinivasa noted.
He explained that democracy in India does not only mean providing the right to vote, but also ensuring social and economic equality.

The envoy emphasised that while the democratic system of India has received worldwide appreciation, it is still working as an ongoing process to bring in further improvements so that democracy can be firmed up in true sense.

“The Indian Government is working upon eradicating illiteracy, poverty, communalism, casteism and gender discrimination among other things to strengthen democracy, ” he said.

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