Nashik: Majority of people in India are living in an illusionary and imaginary world whereas the politicians are obsessed with Pakistan, this is why the needed growth and development work still remain a far-reaching dream for India, Justice (Rtrd.) Kolse Patil, a known critic of the system who had resigned as the judge at the Bombay High Court, said.
"Democracy doesn't mean just election and right to vote. It is all about making elected representatives accountable. But, majority of us live in a fantasy world created by film and television. Then there are our politicians who are obsessed with Pakistan. They create hype out of this and keep us engaged, literally making us unaware of what are our rights and responsibilities", Justice (Rtrd.) Kolse Patil said.
"The politicians take advantage of this situation, and work for corporate and big business houses who number just hundred but control over 95% of country's resources", he said.
Kolse Patil was speaking at the prize distribution ceremony of a National level debate competition organised by LVH College, Panchvati on the topic 'National Food Security Bill will reduce dignity of the labour and jeopardize agriculture'.
Strongly rejecting the motion of the debate, Kolse Patil applauded the National Food Security Bill and termed it as an important and timely step in the right direction. "The bill has nothing to do with election or with any government or political party. The government was actually forced to introduce the bill due to the Supreme Court order passed in 2001", he said.
He also said that by guarantying food to poor the government was not doing any favour. "The constitution has made it mandatory for the government to provide food to its citizens. The SC verdict was based on this constitutional right", he said.
He also criticised the people who are opposing the bill and who say that the bill will over-burden the already under pressure economy. Quoting economist Amritya Sen, Kolse Patil said, "Why similar concerns were not raised when thousands of crore rupees were lost by slashing import duties on gold and silver?"
Reiterating that the country's resources are in the hands of just few people, he said that they make hue and cry whenever any scheme for poor is announced.
Kolse Patil also lambasted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), especially its tirade against corruption and said it was only an attempt to further strengthen the grip of bureaucracy on the system. He also raised questions on Arvind Kejriwal's one man Lokpal who he says will control corruption.
"The strong control which the bureaucracy in India has over the system is already a matter of concern for the people like us. The Jan Lokpal which Arvind Kejriwal is suggesting will only strengthen this bureaucratic control. It will in no way be healthy for our democracy, which is already weakened by various challenges it is facing", he said.
He wondered how one man will be able to control corruption so deep-rooted in the country and from where such a person will be made available. "From where will you get such a person? Do we really have one man, a single man, capable enough for the task?' he asked.
Interestingly, the prize distribution ceremony of the three-day debate competition in itself turned into a debate when Advay Hiray, Joint Secretary of the M.G. Vidyamandir who was presiding over the function, in his address tore apart the assertions made by Kolse Patil during his speech. With the help of statistics and figures, he favoured the motion of the debate and in stark contrast to what Kolse Patil said termed the food security bill as deadly for the country especially for the agriculture.
"The bill will only push the farmers to the line of beggars. Th government should not treat them as beggars. Instead, it should help them with latest technologies and amenities, and bring infrastructural change in the rural areas", he said.
A total of 140 students from 70 colleges of various states of the country participated in the three-day debate competition held in four languages English, Hindi, Marathi and Urdu. Sanket and Saylee of LVH College, who spoke in English, went away with the trophy whereas Amol Gutte of Matoshree College of Engineering won the first prize worth 50,000/- cash.
The second prize of Rs.25,000 went to Mayur Bhave of Garware College, Pune whereas the third prize of Rs.11,000 was bagged by Kajal Boraste of HPT College, Nashik. Besides this, cash prizes were also given to five top contestants from the four languages.
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