We must rethink our path to progress, says historian Ramachandra Guha
Bengaluru (PTI): Stating that multiple forms of environmental degradation have pushed India towards a deep civilisational crisis, Bapu Ke Log, a nation-wide coalition of Gandhians, has put together a manifesto intending to mitigate the effects of the present crisis.
The manifesto was officially released on Sunday by Anil Hegde, Rajya Sabha MP representing Bihar.
In his speech at the event, historian, Gandhian and environmentalist Ramachandra Guha said we must rethink our path to progress.
"Even if climate change was not occurring, India will be an environmental disaster. Climate change is making the problem much worse and less predictable," he said.
Bapu Ke Log's manifesto tells us how to rethink, Guha said. "It tells us how to forge a path for our country that is suitable to not just its culture, but to its environmental constraints," he added.
To put a check on the "rapid downfall of our society", Guha suggested measures like degrowth wherever needed, political decentralisation, renewal and revitalisation of civil societies and re-orientation of science.
Prasanna, a noted theatre personality and Gandhian, who was instrumental in drafting the manifesto, suggested a 70-30 economy where at least 70 per cent human labour is involved in the production of all goods and services to lift the society from its current predicament.
He said the manifesto was shaped by many organisations and individuals across the country and that a book will be brought out detailing the idea.
"We believe annihilation of labour, or the process of complete automation, is at the root of our present crisis," said Prasanna.
According to Prasanna, automation is also breaking the sacred link between God and human beings, and created what he termed as hierarchical religion. "In Karnataka, they (hierarchical religions) have made the people who are the followers of 'kayaka' as the followers of demigods. This is morally wrong," he added.
He said the issue is also being aggravated by the anger towards the faithful. "But the faithful do not know. It is the intellectual, the political leaders and the spiritual leaders who had to tell the faithful the difference between real God and godmen. This is what Swami Vivekananda did, this is what Jesus Christ did and this is what Mahatma Gandhi did. So, the revolution did not start and end with Karl Marx," Prasanna added.
Vinod Vyasalu, director of the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies, Bengaluru, said that one of the first things that we are taught in classrooms about economy is that we need 'growth, more growth and forever growth'.
"But I believe there is a proper size for everything. If the baby grows at the same rate as it grows in the first six months, then by the age of 20, it will be 40 feet tall," said Vyasalu.
He further said Gandhi was not totally against automation, recalling how he singled out Singer sewing machines as a sign of good progress.
"It is okay if something helps one improve productivity, but if it is taken to the point where artificial intelligence, for instance, does everything, then it means that people are not involved. Most of our problems came because of this disconnect," said Vyasalu.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
