New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Digvijay
Singh on Saturday said the 1975 Emergency should be "forgotten" as
late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had herself apologised for
the "aberration".
Participating in a function to release a book `Civil
Disobedience` written by late freedom fighter L C Jain, Singh
also pitched for greater "inner-party democracy" and spoke
about the need to bridge the widening gulf between two Indias
-- the "rich India and the poor India".
Responding to a question on Emergency from eminent
columnist Jayati Ghosh, Singh said, "Indira Gandhi had herself
apologised for the aberration. It is past. Past is better
forgotten always."
The Congress leader also spoke about the need to
transfer funds directly to stakeholders, especially at the
panchayat level.
On Binayak Sen`s conviction, he said the rights activist
was "exceedingly dedicated" and there is always a judicial
review which should be looked into.
NAC Member and Social Activist Aruna Roy was highly
critical of Sen`s conviction for the "offence which he has
never committed".
"There is need for political freedom in the country. In a
country where difference of opinion is seen as sedition, there
is a need to fight once again for political equality," she
said.
Other speakers at the function, including Nobel
Laureate Amartya Sen, hailed L C Jain, who launched India`s
"second freedom struggle" -- the fight against corruption, as
a "visionary" and a crusader who fought against corruption.
The book is being released two months after the death of
Jain. The speakers also recalled how Jain wrote the book "even
from his death bed".
Amartya Sen used the occasion to voice his support for
jailed Binayak Sen and recalled his exemplary work.
The noted economist was also critical of the media in
India for "not highlighting the real issues" that matter to
the society.
Senior Journalist P Sainath also criticised the media and
said `paid news` is a menace it happens because of the
ownership, which has been "highly corporatised."
PTI
