On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement, the lok Sabha on Wednesday resolved to protect democratic values, promote harmony and patriotism and rid the country of corruption. The unanimous resolution also pledged to work tirelessly in the next five years to build a nation as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters.
“We, the representatives of more than 125 crore people, resolve to take along every citizen in working towards building a nation as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters by 2022 when we will celebrate 75th anniversary of our Independence,” the resolution said. Earlier, initiating the special commemorative debate, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said there was a need to start an initiative to unite the people of the country, as was done during the Quit India Movement launched to gain country’s Independence in 1942.
The Speaker said Mahatma Gandhi had said the poorest sections of the society should be the priority when it comes to the issues of development. This statement was reiterated by Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay by saying that the development should reach the last man. “This is the concept of the Antyodaya (rise of the last person,” she said.
“lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak had said ‘freedom is my birth right and I shall have it’. Similarly, it is important to say now that ‘Suraaj’ (good governance) is my ultimate duty and I will do it,” she said.
Mahajan said the qualities of energy, courage, belief, determination and self-confidence that gave the country independence, have to be followed again so that “we are able to build an India of our dreams which is the best, strongest, prosperous and a world leader”.
Deputy Speaker and AIADMK leader M Thambidurai demanded that all Indian languages be called national and that official status be granted to these. He said people from all languages had fought for the freedom of the country and it was Parliament’s “bounden duty” to treat each of them equally, instead of giving priority to any one language.
“let us pledge to see that all our languages are called national languages and not regional languages. let us pledge to see that all languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, etc. Are recognised as official languages of this country,” he said. Thambidurai also recalled the enthusiastic participation of people in the freedom movement from Tamil Nadu and named leaders who took active part in it.
The Dravidian movement may have had difference of opinion with the Congress, the pre-eminent party in the independence struggle, but they fought for an independent India. Sugata Bose of the Trinamool Congress asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take stronger action against those “who are spreading the poison of hatred and killing human beings in the name of religion” if he truly wants all evils to quit India by 2022.
BJD leader Tathagata Satpathy, Shiv Sena member Anandrao Adsul also spoke on the occasion.