Ref: ARMY/HO/101/AGST ONE ELECTION/2024                      15 January, 2024

To

The Secretary,
High level Committee – One Nation One Election,
Jodhpur Officers’ Hostel (Block No.9)
Near National Gallery of Modern Arts,
‘C’ Hexagon (India Gate Circle)
New Delhi-110 003
Email: sc-hlc@gov.in

Sir,

Sub: Suggestions invited for “One Nation, One Election” – We oppose the very Idea of “One Nation, One Election” as it is intended against Federalism and meant for “One Man, One Power” meaning ‘Democratic Dictatorship’.

 At the outset, we are to state that India is not a Nation as yet as stated by Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar on 25 November, 1949 in the Constituent Assembly.  The fear expressed by him on that day has neither vanished nor diminished even after 74 years but has been getting strengthened by the casteist and divisive politics adopted and practised by the politicians of our country who always keep their selfishness above the country.  This may be a bitter statement but one has to admit that truth is always bitter.  All-out efforts are made to divide the people by fragmenting them on sub-caste-pride, regional-pride, religious-pride, linguistic-pride, gender-pride and so on but not to unite them as ‘Indian first and Indian last’ as vowed by Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar.

 Heinous crimes committed against the SCs, STs, Minorities and Women:

 Since 2014, India has been witnessing the worst situation of danger to fraternity – unparalleled in the post-independent history- due to the rise of the most atrocious and deadening face of the fascism with the State either directly promoting it or silently patronizing it.  In other words, state-sponsored terrorism against the people, particularly, the SCs, STs, Minorities and women go unabated with the state machinery mutely watching over the dastardly acts.  Examples are plenty and it is not desirable to list them out as the whole world knows the truth despite the godi media giving a rosy picture.

3. Why there is no ‘Swachh Dil Mission’?

‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ was launched by the Prime Minister on 2nd October, 2014 at Rajpath New Delhi and till date it is not known why he has not thought of launching “Swachh Dil Mission” to annihilate the caste system and untouchability because the latter will be counter-productive to him in our casteist country and will not bring him the much expected political dividend. Is cleansing the heart not important to foster fraternity and promote the thought of “we, the Indians”?  He will not venture to do it as he himself has been practicing untouchability as could be seen from his treatment to Mr.Ram Nath Kovind, then President of India hailing from Scheduled Caste and Mrs.Droupadi Murmu, the current President of India hailing from a Scheduled Tribe!

4. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao – only on paper?

Similarly, he launched another movement “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” on 22nd January, 2015 at Panipet, Haryana but the atrocities against the girls and women have been rampantly increasing  during his regime and the gender bias is at its peak as never before as could be seen everywhere.  Listing out the deadliest instances will speak ill of and expose the governance.

5. Even political equality is in constant danger:

Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar said on 25th January, 1949: “…. In politics we will be recognizing the principle of one man one vote and one vote one value. In our social and economic life, we shall, by reason of our social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one man one value…”  The political climate in our country is such that the political establishment has belied the hope of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar in the matter of political equality too, leave alone the social and economic equality.  The SC/ST people in certain hamlets/ villages were prevented from voting during 2019 general elections and it happens in almost all elections.  In September, 2019, a Dalit BJP MP Mr.A.Narayanasamy representing Chitradurga Constituency in Karnataka was not allowed to enter Gollarahatii, a hamlet of Kadu Golla tribe at Permanahalli village in Pavagada region of Tumkur District on the ground that the MP belongs to the Dalit community which is considered untouchable by the Kadu Gollas.  Thus, the ‘one man one vote and one man one value’ principle has been utterly defeated by the unwilling and unscrupulous political bosses.  This is the fate an MP belonging to SC and belonging to BJP, the epicenter of power.

6. SC/ST Presidents of India have been humiliated and dishonoured:

When the then President Mr. Ram Nath Kovind visited Puri Jagannnath Temple, he was not allowed inside the temple by the Sanatanic Priests. No condemnation  was heard from the BJP President or the Prime Minister. No action under the SC & ST POA Act was initiated.  Again when the foundation pooja for ram Temple was performed at Ayodhya, the Prime Minister Modi has disrespected the President by not inviting him to the function.  When the new Parliament Building was inaugurated, Mr. Modi has chosen to ignore the President Droupadi Murmu.  Now, the Ayodhya Temple is to be inaugurated on 22nd January, 2024 by ignoring the President Droupadi Murmu. If these are all not the caste discriminations against these first citizens of India, then what else can we call them?  Where is the Nation in its real sense to switch over to ‘One Nation, One Election’?

7. We are not yet a Nation:

Citing a fine example of the USA, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar said in the Constituent Assembly on 25th November, 1949:

“The second thing we are wanting in is recognition of the principle of fraternity.  What does fraternity mean?  Fraternity means a sense of common brotherhood of all Indians- if Indians being one people.  It is the principle which gives unity and solidarity to social life. It is a difficult thing to achieve.  How difficult it is, can be realized from the story related by James Bryce in his volume on American Commonwealth about the United States of America.

   The story is- I propose to recount it in the words of Bryce himself- that-

    “Some years ago the American Protestant Episcopal Church was occupied at its triennial Convention in revising it liturgy.  It was thought desirable to introduce among the short sentence prayers a prayer for the whole people, and an eminent New England divine proposed the words “O Lord, bless the nation’.  Accepted one afternoon, on the spur of the moment, the sentence was brought up next day for reconsideration, when so many objections were raised by the laity to the word ‘nation’ as importing too definite a recognition of national unity, that it was dropped, and instead there were adopted the words “O Lord, bless these United States”.   

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar proceeded further to validate his prophetic view-point saying that believing we are a nation, we are cherishing a great delusion.  Said he, “There was so little solidarity in the U.S.A., at the time when the incident occurred that the people of America did not think that they were a nation.  If the people of the United States could not feel that they were a nation, how difficult it is for Indians to think that they are a nation.  I remember the days when politically-minded Indians resented the expression “the people of India”.  They preferred the expression “the Indian nation.”  I am of opinion that in believing that we are a nation, we are cherishing a great delusion. How can people divided into several thousands of castes be a nation? The sooner we realize that we are not as yet a nation in the social and psychological sense of the word, the better for us.  For then only we shall realize the necessity of becoming a nation and seriously think of ways and means of realizing the goal.  The realization of this goal is going to be very difficult – far more difficult than it has been in the United States.  The United States has no caste problem.  In India there are castes.  The castes are anti-national. In the first place they bring about separation in social life.  They are anti-national also because they generate jealousy and antipathy between caste and caste.  But we must overcome all these difficulties if we wish to become a nation in reality.  For fraternity can be fact only when there is a nation.  Without fraternity, equality and liberty will be no deeper than coats a paint.”

The prophet in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar has further held, “We cannot make our political democracy a social democracy as well.  Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy.  What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognizes liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life.  These principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy.  Liberty cannot be divorced from equality, equality cannot be divorced from liberty. Nor can liberty and equality be divorced from fraternity.  Without equality, liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many.  Equality without liberty would kill individual initiative.  Without fraternity, liberty and equality could not become a natural course of things…”   The political masters master-minding the decisions inimical to the largest segment of population should conscientiously ask themselves whether they have done anything tangible to achieve this trinity.

8. Why not ‘One Nation One Caste (with Three Genders) Mission’?

No Government in the Centre has ever thought of launching this mission.  More than any party, BJP should be committed to launch such a Mission as it has launched so many Missions, even though they are not as effective as they should be.  It is akin to expect the sun to rise in west instead of east.  The above thoughts of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar are ever relevant, particularly for India, because the delusion of India as a nation will continue for centuries. To imagine that India will follow ‘One Nation One Caste’ (with three genders) will be an Utopian dream with meteoric rise in caste and religious hatred systematically spread and promoted by the hardcore Hindutva led Government either by being complicit or being silent spectator.

9. ‘One Nation One Election’ to give blow to Federalism and Establish Dictatorship:

 Indian democracy will be doomed if the “One Nation One Election’ system is launched because it will ultimately aim at establishing a Unitary State with no diverse political parties.  Regional aspirations will be doomed too.  Authoritarianism in the Centre will swallow the authority of the States.   As on date, the Centre has subverted all the Constitutional/ Statutory Bodies- be it CBI, ED, IT Department, CVC, CAG, Election Commission of India and the Judiciary.   Different States’ mandate from the people for rule of particular parties for five years will be crucified.  With the enactment of the “Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill 2023, the Election Commission of India is sure to become subservient to the Political establishment that is in power with replacement of CJI by a Cabinet Minister to be chosen by the Prime Minister throwing the CJI out of the selection committee as envisaged by the Supreme Court in its judgment dated 2nd March, 2023 in  Anoop Baranwal Vs Union of India.

10. How could the Election Commission of India conduct free and fair elections within the time frame?

 The past elections spreading over 2 months in different phases have literally given chances for the ruling BJP party and the Prime Minister to tour all the States at the cost of Government exchequer and such allegations cannot be brushed aside just like that.  If ‘One Nation One Election’ is given effect to, what will the Election Commission of India (ECI) do?  Will it announce more number of phases running to 6 months in the guise of deployment of paramilitary forces in various constituencies across the country in order to facilitate the BJP in power to tour around the country for canvassing and influencing the voters through the godi media’s election survey?  Will the ECI ever think of banning EVM and restoring the paper ballot?  Or will it continue to depend upon EVM so that the current ruling party can easily depend upon the ECI?

11. ‘No’ to ‘One Nation One Election’ formula:

 In view of the foregoing submissions, we are of the view that this is an ill-conceived idea with the intention of consolidating and centralizing power and weakening the States in order to treat them as subservient units as against the status conferred upon them by the Constitution.  It is a road map for authoritarianism and dictatorship. It is an evil step taken forward to destroy the Federal structure of the Constitution and the Constitution itself. It is not out of context here to quote Mr.S.M.Gupte’s speech made on 23.11.1949 in the Constituent Assembly: “The Weimar Constitution was said to be a model democratic Constitution of the time but it was soon wrecked by Hitler and out of its ashes arose a terrible dictatorship which plunged the world into a devastating war.  So it is not the Constitution that matters nor the people who make it, but it is the men who work the Constitution and the spirit in which they work it.  Any Constitution may be good on paper, but its success depends upon the manner in which it is worked.”   Hence, we oppose this scheme/ formula tooth and nail and the Honorable Chairman Mr.Ram Nath Kovind of this High Power Committee along with others should DESIST from making a favourable recommendation of this scheme, lest history will curse the proposed system and the proposers.

It is felt better to conclude with the following quotes on history as this High Level Committee also needs to be reminded of history: “Study the past if you would define the future”- Confucius. “Life is divided into three terms- that which was, which is and which will be.  Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present to live better in the future”- William Wordsworth.  Lest, we will land in devil’s paradise!  Let us first make and shape India a nation and then let us do all we want including ‘One Nation, One Election’.   WE NOT ONLY DO STRONGLY OPPOSE THE IDEA OF “ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION” BUT ALSO UNEQUIVOCALLY CONDEMN IT AS AN ANTI-PEOPLE, ANTI-FEDERAL AND UNDEMOCRATIC IDEA BEING DESIGNED TO SUIT THE INTEREST OF CERTAIN POWER-INTOXICATED POLITICAL MASTERS.

With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,

A. JAISON
General Secretary
Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Rationalist
Youth Movement (ARMY)
Chennai-600 011
Mob: 94430 99600
Email: jaibhim3@yahoo.com

A. JAISON, M.A.,B.L.