Press Releases Archive

Parties resolve to promote democratic values, Condemn attack on Dr.JP

An all-party meeting conducted here today said that the attack on Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, Lok Satta Party President and Kukatpally legislator, on the legislature premises was an attack on constitutional and democratic values and freedom of expression. The attack epitomized the decline in democratic values, the meeting said in an unanimous resolution.

The meeting conducted at the Lok Satta Party headquarters also condemned attacks on Lok Satta activists in Medak, and L. B. Nagar and Moti Nagar in Hyderabad, and congratulated youth in the U. S. who took out protest rallies in Irwin and other cities.

Lok Satta Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma presided over the meeting attended by representatives of the Congress, TDP, PRP, CPI, CPM, Forward Block, RSP, and Telangana Democratic Front and a number of voluntary organizations.

Inaugurating the meeting, Mr. Varma said rowdyism and goondaism in legislatures mirrored the decline the democratic values. The Lok Satta Party had convened the meeting not to seek sympathy for its leader or to demand action against culprits responsible for the assault. It aimed at discussing how political parties with different ideologies and policies should conduct their activities.

Mr. N. Tulasi Reddy(Congress) said it was shameful that at a time countries like Egypt are fighting against despotism, democratic traditions are being given a go-by in India.

Mr. Ramakrishna (CPI) said that political parties would lose credibility further if they choose to physically attack their opponents, instead of respecting their point of view. Mr. Y. V. Rao (CPM) said that all parties should condemn physical attacks transcending their political differences.

Mr. B. N. Reddy and Ms. Vijayalakshmi (both TDP) said physical attacks based on brute numbers deserved to be condemned by all.

Mr. Ramachandraiah (PRP) said means should be as noble as ends. The attack on Dr. JP, who is fighting for restoration of ethics in politics, is reprehensible.

Mr. Deshpande (Forward Bloc) said the struggle for a Telangana would not be furthered by attacks on freedom of expression. The TRS legislators should have peacefully protested against the Governor’s address. Telangana people’s pleasure over the success of the non-cooperation movement evaporated in the wake of the attack on Dr. JP, said Ms. Vijayalaskhmi (Telangana Democratic Front).

Mr. Padmanabha Reddy (Forum for Good Governance) regretted that the attack would prevent good people from entering politics. Mr. Lakshman Reddy(Jana Chaitanya Vedika) said the attack triggered concern over the safety of people from other regions in Hyderabad.

Mr. Srinivasa Reddy (IJU) said he believed that Dr. JP is the only real people’s representative in the Assembly. Although he too stood for a Telangana State, he felt the attack adversely affected the morale of separatists. Mr. Devulapalli Amar, senior journalist, said that politicians should respect others’ opinions even when they differed from theirs.

Among others who condemned the attack on Dr. JP were Mr. Lok Nath (Jai Bharat), Mohd. Turab (Kova), Mr. Chengalreddy (Rytu Samakhya), Ms. K. Aruna (Vikas Dhatri), Mr. Venkatramayya (Satyanveshana Mandali) and Mr. Prasad (Jana Vignana Vedika).

Lok Satta Party leaders G. Raja Reddy, Katari Srinivasa Rao, and Mrs. Gita Murthy coordinated the meeting.

Friday, February 18, 2011 - 18:06

It is an assault on democracy: Dr. JP

“I do not view it as a personal attack on me; it is an assault on democracy itself,” said Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan here today,

Addressing media a few hours he was subjected to a physical attack on the legislature premises, Dr. JP expressed his gratitude to the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, the Chairman of the Legislative Council, the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and thousands of others who had conveyed him their sympathies. He wished speedy recovery of Mr. Paladugu Venakata Rao who came to his rescue unmindful of his age and health.

Pointing out that a number of people were seething with anger while some others were sad over the incidents, he appealed to people not to react violently either in word or deed. In this context, he recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s saying that “an eye for an eye will leave the entire world blind.” Dr. JP added he did not lodge a complaint against anybody for the attack. He believed that the Chair is competent enough to take all steps to preserve democracy and ensure smooth conduct of the House.

Speaking without any anger or rancor, Dr. JP said he always maintained the party is more important than an individual, and the country is more important than a party. Some people seem to be wishing to silence the voice of those who enjoy credibility because they always speak facts. “Facts do not go away whether there is JP or no JP. Dharma and justice will always triumph”

Dr. JP appealed to people to sit up and take notice of the decline in democratic values. Democracy calls for reasoned debate and harmonization of different viewpoints in a peaceful manner through constitutional means. Democracy does not mean mere conduct of elections. Democracy has been under attack in some part of the country or the other every day.

A remedy to the ills of democracy lies in more democracy and not in running away from it. Tearing away of Constitution copies and boycotting of elections will not provide a solution.

Dr. JP said he did not advocate suspension of the Assembly and the imposition of President’s rule, as put out by certain media sections. All that he said was that if the situation was allowed to drift and lead to Preisdent’s rule, it did not augur well for democracy.

Dr. JP said he was fully committed to protecting the rights of Telangana people. It was the Lok Satta which spearheaded the move for the deletion of Section 14 from the Presidential Order on recruitment of police personnel in Hyderabad. It was the Lok Satta which opposed the diversion of the Godavari water for meeting the drinking water needs of Hyderabad as it would harm the interests of people in Telangana. It was again the Lok Satta which strongly aruged for utilization of the Nagarjunasagar waters for the benefit of Telangana and Rayalaseema.

The Lok Satta Party, he recalled, always maintained that if people accomplished their dream of a separate Telangana State peacefully, it would not be a catastrophe. At the same time, the party believed that a separate State would not serve its purpose unless the people of the region have access to education, health and employment opportunities and local governments are fully empowered.

He said he still regarded TRS members as friends and harbored no ill-will against them.

Lok Satta Party President D. V. V. S. Varma appealed to all political parties and democratic forces to observe February 18 as ‘Democracy Protection Day’ to condemn the physical attack on party President Dr. JP in the Assembly precincts.

He condemned the TRS activists’ attack on Medka Lok Satta Party President Tummalapalli Srinivas, who was peacefully protesting against the attack on Dr. JP.

Addressing media earlier, party leaders Varma, V. Laxman Balaji, G. Raja Reddy, V. Vijayender Reddy, P. Ravi Maruth said the attack on Dr. JP was an attack on democracy and the Constitution. It had tarnished the image of the legislature. Legislatures should be forums only for those who believe in democracy and not for goondas and rowdies.

They demanded that the Government wake up from its stupor and take stern action those who instigate and indulged in the attack on Dr. JP.

Thursday, February 17, 2011 - 18:38

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