EDITORIAL he Modi Government has now coined a new definition to the words nationalist, patriot or for that matter tolerant. Anyone who does not subscribe to the ideology of the RSS or the Modi Government and dares to voice dissent is now anti national, un-patriotic and Intolerant who must leave this Tcountry to find home in the neighboring country. It is now a pre condition to a peaceful life in India to be a faithful follower of the RSS or Modi government. It is in this context that we strongly condemn the barbaric attack on Journalists and Students within the precincts of the Patiala House Court complex. The Delhi police chose to stand by as mute spectators and refused to stop the perpetrators of the violence, while people were being mercilessly beaten in broad daylight. The Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited the JNU campus to express his solidarity with the genuine students of the university. While condemning the voicing of anti India slogans by a motely group of youngsters some of whom may not even have been students, Rahul ji said he does not need lessons in nationalism from the BJP and the RSS as it was in his blood. It was not for the government to muzzle the voice of dissent in our campuses by use of brutal force and instead should allow the voicing of divergent opinion in our vibrant democracy. The level of intolerance has breached all levels of decency when a BJP legislator from Rajasthan has called for Sh. Rahul Gandhi to be hanged or shot for going to the JNU calling his visit anti national. Rahul Gandhi needs no certificate of Nationalism nor does the Congress party need such a certificate from BJP or RSS. The contribution of the Nehru –Gandhi family in the freedom struggle the assassination of two members of the family, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, are known to everyone. Such remarks against the Vice President of the Grand Old Party which fought for the independence, scarified many lives and has govern India for almost six decades is in very bad taste and the BJP led Rajasthan Government must take immediate legal action as well as expel this MLA from the assembly.. It is that time of the year when the incumbent government sets the agenda for how it proposes to manage the fiscal health of the country by presenting the yearly budget. The Indian economy is in shambles and exports have declined for 14 months in a row. Despite gloating on figures of growth in economy the real position on the ground is different. Business is showing a downward trend the value of Rupee is fast devaluating and a spirit of gloom is falling on the populace. The government doesn’t know what to do despite having the benefit of highly lowered international crude prices. The loss that the Banking industry is experiencing is also due to the sad state of the economy. The values of the shares of the banking sector have fallen to almost 50 per cent reducing the viability of the banks. The write offs of bad debts has reached alarming proportions in the last two years. The key issues of economy remain unaddressed and we sincerely hope that the finance minister touches relevant issues instead of making cosmetic announcements and more promises, for which this government is known. The revelations about the real estate dealings, of the daughter of the chief minister of the home state of the Prime Minister and the BJP President, Gujarat. is drawing a lot of dissatisfaction and raised eyebrows. Precious land in non-conforming eco zone has been allotted to the people intrinsically linked to the lady in question. The PM who voices his "Mann ki Baat" every month has not said a word on such a serious matter. As it is, the PM chooses to remain silent on all relevant issues and has chosen to do so once again. Whether it be JNU or Patiala House Court or Gujarat etc. etc. he has decided not to voice his opinion. It is time the PM addressed the nation on real issues. The continuous attacks on our establishments on the border have increased alarmingly. There has been loss of precious lives both of our forces personnel as well as the civilian population. There is clearly some inadequacy in maintaining of the border posts and the government needs to apply its mind as to what steps need to be taken to stop such infiltration. v CONGRESS SANDESH | 3 | FEBRUARY 2016 Published in Hindi & English Never before in the history of Independent India has there been a Government that is so intolerant to dissent. Any one, be it political parties, groups of intellectuals, artists or for that matter the youth, especially students who were mesmerized by the promises of the Prime Minister of a booming economy and jobs for the asking that he held in the run up of the General Elections, find themselves accused of being anti national by the Modi Government. The new definition of being a Nationalist in the current government is being a follower of RSS or pro BJP. In JNU, instead of taking action against a handful of youth who had given EDITOR Dr Girija Vyas adequate warning of their intention by the posters they had pasted and pamphlets MEMBERS OF that they had distributed, the Government chose to use this as an opportunity to THE EDITORIAL BOARD Salman Khursheed target the university that has always been opposed to their ideology. The stark Jairam Ramesh reality is staring us in the face that the saffaronisation of universities is muzzling EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS the voice of the students whether it is at Hyderabad, Pune or JNU. Institutions Ram Naresh Sinha Rattan Francis like AMU and Jamia Millia too have not escaped their notice. MANAGER Kamal Shahu The point of ridicule is that those who were mute spectators to the tyranny of EDITORIAL OFFICE the Imperial Government in the pre independence era and had amongst its ilk Congress Sandesh, All India Congress Committee people like Godse, the radical leader who assassinated the Father of the Nation 24, Akbar Road, Mahatma Gandhi, are trying to preach lessons on Nationalism and patriotism New Delhi-110 011 Phone: 2301 9080 Extn: 429 to the grand old party whose history is replete with instances of sacrifices in the Fax:2301 7047 struggle for independence. They even refused to hoist the Indian flag on their Email: [email protected] [email protected] premises for 52 years after independence. The National Flag is by itself a symbol Website:www.congresssandesh.com of our national pride. PUBLISHER Motilal Vora The Modi Government must stop its attitude of intolerance towards dissent Published every month by Motilal Vora and debate and stop suppressing the freedom to expression that has been the on behalf of Sandesh Trust, hallmark of the diversity of India and has survived till so far. All India Congress Committee and printed at Chaar Dishayen Printers, SUBSCRIPTION RATES G-40, Sector-3, Noida 201 301 Two Years = Rs.200/- • Three Years = Rs.300/- • Five Years = Rs.500/- Outstation cheques should include Rs.25 extra towards realization charges. Cheques/Demand Draft may be sent in favour of ‘Sandesh Trust’, 24 Akbar Road, New Delhi-110011 CONGRESS SANDESH | 4 | FEBRUARY 2016 Contents Vol. XVIII No. 6, February 2016 6 CWC MEET Congress Working Committee meeting held on 22nd February, 2016 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF MGNREGA • Speech of Dr. Manmohan Singh Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that the Employment Guarantee Act is the most significant legislation of our times 8 • CP’s Speech from archives Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi said that the Employment Guarantee Act is a landmark legislation 8 15 MEMORANDUM ON JNU ROW Congress Vice-President, Shri Rahul Gandhi said RSS imposing flawed ideology on students 16 CP’s VISIT On her visit to Rae Bareli, Congress President Sonia Gandhi hits back at PM for blaming Congress for Parliament COMMENT Anandiben Patel and the then Chief disruption • The Gallant Democrat and the JNU Row Minister Narendra Modi by Dr. Shashi Kumar Singh says that JNU VP’s VISIT is being manhandled by the goons 27 VIEWPOINT • Congress Vice-President, Shri Rahul • The Tyranny of the unelected by Shri • Attacks on Institutions of Tolerance: Randeep Singh Surjewala 36 Gandhi speaking in Bundelkhand said University System, Shri Aditya that PM Modi was ‘ignoring farmers’ 17 Narayan Mishra writes about the Modi • On the brink of an abyss: Punjab’s governance, economy are in shambles, • Shri Rahul Gandhi, on his Hyderabad government’s fascist agenda 28 writes Shri Manish Tewari 37 visit, joins mid-night march for Rohith • From Central University, Hyderabad Vemula 19 to JNU: An Era of intolerance by Dr. ACHIEVEMENTS • Speaking in Thiruvananthapuram, Shri Surendra Kumar 30 • Contribution of the Congress Party Rahul Gandhi said that it is time to work difficult to be ignored 38 unitedly to ensure victory in Kerala 20 COMMENT • Economy sinking, despite tall claims, • The other side of the Millennium, the story • Shri Rahul Gandhi, speaking at the NSUI writes Shri Jairam Ramesh 32 of economic turnaround in Assam under Meet in Kerala, said that NSUI has to the Congress government by Bobbeeta combat anti-poor policies of the Modi 34 Sharma 43 government 22 LAND SCAM Stateswatch 48 • Speaking in Assam, Shri Rahul Gandhi From PCC Chief of Gujarat Arjun accused the BJP of spreading violence Modhwadia writes that blatant plundering MAHILA CONGRESS Report 59 and hatred 24 of public land in Gujarat was done by AICC DIARY 60 CONGRESS SANDESH | 5 | FEBRUARY 2016 CWC MEET DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN RECENT MONTHS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.