Panaji: Former Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Thursday took jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not giving credit to the democratic system that made from Chaiwala to the PM.
“You have heard countless times how a Chaiwala has become the Prime Minister. But please take note that our Prime Minister seldom gives any credit to our democratic system or the Constitution that has made this possible,” Shinde said while delivering a key note address on “Our Constitutional Democracy and Its Ideals” organised during launching of a book written by lawyer and Congress leader Yatish Naik in Goa.
“I was a pattewala in Solapur District court. I have always maintained that whatever I have achieved in life is because of our constitution. Rather than glorifying myself, I feel it is my duty to admit that the party to which I belong has entrusted me with high offices,” he said.
“In my opinion, democracy and humility should go hand in hand. Blowing one’s traumpet is counter-productive,” Shinde added.
The former union minister said that Mahatma Gandhi preached a number of high ideals. “He held that the means are as important as the ends. He insisted on the principle of trusteeship. Simplicity was his motto,” he said.
Shinde stated that Ram Rajya was his dream. “It is based on the idea of a self reliant village, which shall be environment friendly, where women shall have equal status and where everybody will be able to lead her or his life peacefully. We need to remember that in today’s political scenario, it is important that means and ends do not get confused with each other,” he said.
Referring to the role of the government in current scenario, Shinde said the well being of an individual is an amorphous concept, which may vary from nation to nation.
“For instance, in an affluent country, it could mean minimum intervention of the government in day-to-day life of the citizens. On the contrary, in our society, the presence of government is omnipotent. It has to perform the role of an intervener, providing subsidized food, shelter, healthcare, education and employment,” he said.
“Under a dictatorship, the only job of a government is to keep the populace silent. Whatever the ruling clique decides, is the well being of the people under a totalitarian rule,” Shinde added.
