Inequality at its peak, says Prakash Karat
TNN | Feb 24, 2019, 12:04 IST
Swami Agnivesh and Prakash Karat at the National Students’ Parliament in Thiruvananthapuram on SaturdayTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Strengthening the democratic system was the need of the hour, said Governor P Sathasivam here on Saturday.
Speaking while inaugurating the students' parliament organized at the state legislative assembly he said it was important to remind the future generations about the struggles that led to formation of a democratic system in India. "Being cynical about political activity and thought is like running away. Instead, well-informed youth should come forward to ensure a better democratic process," he said.
At a time when India has been registering growth in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), inequality in the country has been widening and reached its peak, said CPM politburo member Prakash Karat. Speaking at the session 'The Idea of India' as part of the event, he said today 77% of the country's wealth has been concentrated in the hands of 10% of the population and the neo-liberal policies of the successive governments give a push to the trend. Touching upon the latest threat of waning scientific temper, he cited the incident of a speaker talking about test-tube babies and aircraft mentioned in Ramayana at the recently-concluded Science Congress. Karat also pointed out how the rich has been influencing the country's policy decisions.
"Nowadays, political parties are selecting their candidates from among the rich, who decide on the policies of the country. This is the major challenge the country face today," he said adding that money power would be a major deciding factor in the upcoming general elections also. He said that B R Ambedkar, in his speech during the adoption of the Constitution on January 26, 1950, had noted that the country was entering a phase of contradiction, where there would be equality in polity, but inequality in social and economic life. "The country is yet to get over this contradiction," he said.
The students' parliament was part of Festival of Democracy, jointly organized by the legislature secretariat and parliamentary affairs department.
Speaking while inaugurating the students' parliament organized at the state legislative assembly he said it was important to remind the future generations about the struggles that led to formation of a democratic system in India. "Being cynical about political activity and thought is like running away. Instead, well-informed youth should come forward to ensure a better democratic process," he said.
At a time when India has been registering growth in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), inequality in the country has been widening and reached its peak, said CPM politburo member Prakash Karat. Speaking at the session 'The Idea of India' as part of the event, he said today 77% of the country's wealth has been concentrated in the hands of 10% of the population and the neo-liberal policies of the successive governments give a push to the trend. Touching upon the latest threat of waning scientific temper, he cited the incident of a speaker talking about test-tube babies and aircraft mentioned in Ramayana at the recently-concluded Science Congress. Karat also pointed out how the rich has been influencing the country's policy decisions.
"Nowadays, political parties are selecting their candidates from among the rich, who decide on the policies of the country. This is the major challenge the country face today," he said adding that money power would be a major deciding factor in the upcoming general elections also. He said that B R Ambedkar, in his speech during the adoption of the Constitution on January 26, 1950, had noted that the country was entering a phase of contradiction, where there would be equality in polity, but inequality in social and economic life. "The country is yet to get over this contradiction," he said.
The students' parliament was part of Festival of Democracy, jointly organized by the legislature secretariat and parliamentary affairs department.
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