An apology is needed for the publication and distribution of this little pamphlet. For, the material contained in it, is not anything fresh or new. It is based on the author's contributions published over the years, through the Emergency resting with 1981. Most of them have appeared in the Radical Humanist of which Justice Tarkunde was the then Editor, while the rest of them are from the author's own book "A Political Dissenter's Diary" published in 1978. During those years the author had occasion to collaborate with Justice Tarkunde in the then Human Rights and Civil Liberties Movement to set up the Citizens for Democracy and People's Union of Civil Liberties organisations in Madras and Pune respectively. It was the intention of the author to bring out this pamphlet much earlier. But the hectic events of almost a year delayed its printing. The author however feels that the thoughts and ideas are still not outdated and can have relevancy, in the present changed situation in which this country finds itself. Also, the author feels that the youth of today might find the contents useful to help to clear their minds on many of the political happenings of late. Perhaps, in the public debate that is presently going on in the media on the Constitution, the Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Democracy, the contents in this pamphlet may make some useful contribution.
VALUE BASED POLITICS
2. Through the decade just past, our political parties have reached the nadir in their indulgence in political manoeuvring, leading the nation into the chaotic situation as of today. With the exit of the V. P. Singh government, the miniscule, minority caretaker government of Chandra-shekhar was sworn in. Chandrashekhar resigned after announcing this election. Unfortunately for this country, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated while on an election tour. This protracted and prolonged the Election process. The outcome was a "hung Parliament", which made the President approve the formation of yet another minority Government, this time by the Congress Party.
3. Thus, during the past decade, the country has been witness to many an onslaught on the Constitution. Its Directive Principles of State Policy received scant respect. III-conceived constitutional amendments were passed without due regard to the spirit, intent and purpose of the original provisions of the Constitution. All these facts the author feels, make this publication timely and relevant.
4. What is forgotten by all those concerned in all these political manoeuvring is, that the Indian Constitution so ably drafted by its authors, is a self-contained document ensuring guiding and helping to build a welfare State. It has no parallel to it in any of the world's democracies-east or west. It cannot be improved upon by off and on nibbling at it. This Constitution is there for India, for all her peoples, for all time. After kingship ended, the Constitution became King. But sad to state, that in the process of the recent political manoeuvring in the race for power and personalised politics, the major political parties have failed to project in their manifestos, how they propose to realise the national goals defined in the Constitution and how they will educate the new generation of young voters that it is the Constitution that is supreme and will stand by them to help them overcome the problems arising out of the great changes taking place both nationally and internationally today.
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