Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 26: Marking the 77th Republic Day, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Monday conveyed warm wishes to Indians at home and abroad, while urging the nation to pause and honestly reflect on whether the promises of the Constitution have truly translated into real progress for the people.
In a statement issued on January 26, BSP national president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati said Republic Day should go beyond ceremonial celebrations and political claims, and instead serve as a day of sincere self-examination of India’s political, social and economic democracy.
She stressed that rather than being lost in a web of lofty assurances, governments at both the Centre and state levels must evaluate whether their actions have genuinely upheld the Constitution’s spirit and improved the living standards of ordinary citizens.
Extending her greetings, Mayawati conveyed heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all Indians, expressing hope for a life marked by dignity, equality and self-respect.
Referring to the Constitution framed under the leadership of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, she questioned the nature of development achieved in a country of nearly 140 crore people. She pointed to persistent poverty and unemployment, and raised concerns over why a large section of the population remains dependent on limited government support while wealth continues to accumulate in the hands of a few.
Mayawati also reflected on India’s standing in the global arena, noting that the country was once regarded as a moral guide for the world. She questioned whether that moral leadership still exists today or if India has shifted from setting examples to merely following others.
On the issue of identifying illegal immigrants, she said that while removing non-citizens from electoral rolls is justified, the process should not subject ordinary citizens to excessive and complex documentation requirements. She called on the government to adopt simpler and more humane alternatives instead of placing an undue burden on nearly 100 crore people.
Highlighting concerns over rising inflation, unemployment, illiteracy, caste discrimination and communal tensions, the BSP chief warned that growing inequality has created deep anxiety among large sections of the Bahujan community about their future.
Describing Republic Day as an opportunity to renew commitment to constitutional values, Mayawati appealed to governments to move away from profit-centric, capitalist policies and work with sincerity towards public welfare and social justice. She cited the BSP’s governance in Uttar Pradesh as an example, guided by the principle of “Sarvjan Hitay, Sarvjan Sukhay.”