Mr. Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy Dated:
10th May 2014
National President,
YSR Congress
Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy Ji,
At the outset we would like to congratulate
you on the prospects of a big victory in the ongoing Parliament and Assembly
elections that would be possible due to overwhelming support to your party by
very large sections of minorities, marginalized and liberal groups across the
State.
However, we are also very concerned by your repeated statements
that “all your options are open” for supporting any political formation that
comes to power in the Center in the interest of ensuring development of new
state of Seemandhra. We indeed understand and appreciate your concern and
dedication to safeguard the interests of the new State but safeguarding the
core values of our country with its traditions of secularism, democracy and
respect for the constitution and its constitutional institutions should be
paramount and non negotiable under all circumstances.
As you are aware, BJP, with its Prime Ministerial candidate
Narendra Modi, are also contenders for power at the Centre. Given their track
record over the years (of divisive politics and instigations of riots against
Muslims and Christian communities in different states for political gains), the
authoritarian rule in Gujarat (by Narendra Modi), open and unfortunate
disregard and denigration of constitutional bodies like the Lokayukta in
Gujarat and the Election Commission of India even before coming to power (in
Varanasi on 8th May 2014) and changing the agenda for election
campaign of their party (BJP) from proclaimed focus on “good governance” and “development”
to also eventually include religion (in speeches delivered in Assam, West
Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) and
caste factors (in an inappropriate and twisted response to a statement
of Priyanka Gandhi about “neech rajniti”) in the later part of the campaign for
polarization and electoral gains are clear indicators of the dangers to the
country if BJP comes to power.
In October 2013, you said in a discussion on
NDTV with Barkha Dutt that "I want BJP to change. I want Modi to change
BJP. I want BJP to become secular... We don’t want Muzaffarnagar, we want
Mohabbatnagar". After witnessing the blatant divisive campaign being
unleashed by the BJP in the ongoing elections, do you think a BJP led by Modi who
is totally under the influence of RSS will change for the better?
It is clear that BJP coming to power to rule
the country will not only cause incalculable damage to the secular polity of
the country but will also lead to subversion of constitutional institutions,
dictatorial dispensation and a fascist regime.
Hence we urge you to do everything you can to
keep such forces, exemplified and led by the BJP, from the levers of power in
India and ensure the formation of a democratic and secular government at the
Centre.
Democracy and Secularism are not just
catchwords in election manifestoes but the essential ingredients for the very
survival of our country. At this challenging moment for our country, you have
the power and the responsibility to protect it. Hence, we are placing the power
of our dissent against the undemocratic, fascist, communal and divisive
politics that Narendra Modi represents, in your hands and urge you to do all in
your power to ensure that BJP does not come to power at the Centre and a
democratic and secular government is formed after 16th May 2014.
We
gave you our votes. Please honour our trust.
Signed:
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