INSAF
National Convention
on
Venue: Constitution Club, Rafi Marg, New Delhi
Dates: DECEMBER
9-10, 2013
Programme Schedule
Day 1: Crisis of Capitalism and brazen onslaught on DEMOCRACY
10.00 to 10.30 a.m. Registration & Tea/Coffee
10.30 to 11.00 a.m. Introduction by Anil Chaudhary
11.00 to 13.00 p.m. Inaugural address by eminent writer and journalist P. Sainath
Chaired by Justice Rajinder Sachar
Followed by discussion
13.00
to 14.30 p.m. Lunch
14.30 to 17.30 p.m. Panel Discussion:
Prof. Vibhuti Patel (Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, SNDT Women's University, Mumbai)
Prof. Achin Vanaik (Former Dean of Social Sciences, Delhi University)
Prof. Ramesh Dixit (Lucknow, UP)
Chaired by
Day 2: Surveillance state and perils of DEMOCRACY
10.00 to 13.00 a.m. Panel Discussion
Dr. Usha Ramanathan (Law researcher and activist, New Delhi)
Prabir Purkayastha (Delhi Science Forum)
Ms. Subi Chaturvedi (Asstt. Prof. of Journalism Communication, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi Univ. Founder Hon. Managing Trustee, Media For Change)
Snehashish Ghosh (Centre for Internet & Society)
Chaired by Ms. Kalyani Menon-Sen (Feminist activist & researcher)
13.00 to 14.00 p.m. Lunch
14.00 to 16.30 p.m. Panel Discussion: Suppressing dissent: Stifling NGOs via FCRA
Kabir Dixit (Advocate, Supreme Court of India)
Mathew Cherian (Chairperson, Credibility Alliance)
Chaired by Sanjay Parikh (Human Rights activist and Advocate, Supreme Court of India)
16.30 to 17.00 p.m. Tea/Coffee
Concept Note:
Ever since the Neo-liberal agenda began to unfold 22 years back, the democratic
spaces within Indian polity have been squeezing continuously and the present scenario of run up to 2014 elections is reflecting the state of disarray in parliamentary democracy. The mainstream discourse appears to have deliberately failed in bringing out the intrinsic relationship between ‘capitalism’; its ‘crisis’ and ‘democracy’ to the core of analyzing and understanding the present amnesia in political process.
The characteristics of crony, fictitious, lumpen and speculative Capital that is on the driving seat of contemporary phase of capitalism are mirrored at the operational levels of parliamentary democracy - from governance to electoral process- in the form of corporate influences on policies and decision making, rampant corruption at the pinnacle of power, control of money and muscle-power in politics.
It is, therefore, important to bring out the correlation between the ensuing crisis in global capitalism - including in India - and the impending crisis in our democracy - to the fore. The divergence in the requirements of the neo-liberal phase of capitalism and ‘democracy’ as its analogous political system seems to be the key in explaining the despair engulfing Indian polity at present. The attempts to transform ‘Democracies’ into ‘Corporatocracies’ that we see today, also emanate from this despondency alone.
The last two decades have also seen the institution of ‘State’ posturing itself more and more aggressively against its own people in order to fulfill its obligations to international financial & trade institutions so to serve the interest of global capital. In such a course, it has extensively resorted to adopt the instrument of ‘fabricating’ cases against the voices of opposition to the interests of the global capital. Though the instrument of ‘fabrication’ is not new to the ‘State Craft’ but this time it is being used in a targeted and selective manner. Not only the existing criminal laws have been used for this purpose but new laws like UAPA and various state ‘security laws’ were created during this period to meet this requirement.
The ‘Indian State’ is also proceeding feverishly to create a surveillance state through various means of ‘electronic surveillance’ using cutting edge technologies to track mobile phones, internet usage, emails etc. at home while colluding with U.S. military and security establishment internationally against other nations. The business of creating and sharing of its citizen’s databases (both demographic & biometrics etc) hasbeen promoted by Indian establishment by subverting the Constitution, existing norms of parliamentary democracy and citizens’ rights.
It is in this context that INSAF has decided to hold its two day National Convention 2013.
BRIEF REPORT
The
convention was organised on 9-10 DECEMBER 2013 at the Constitution
Club, New Delhi. It was attended by over 350 grassroots activists,
network leaders and intellectuals from all over India.
The
inaugural session was chaired by Justice Rajinder Sachar. Eminent
writer and journalist, P.Sainath gave the inaugural address.
He
said that the entire 20th century could be summed up in three
processes. 1. The rise and growth of democracy. 2. The rise and
growth of corporate power. 3. The rise and growth of corporate
propaganda to stifle the rise and growth of democracy. In the 21st
century, corporate power and its propaganda machinery is at its
greatest intensity than any other time of the world’s history.
Sainath talked about the celebrations held in India for the advent of
British Petroleum which is responsible for the largest oil-spill in
the world. British petroleum is considered a victory for investment
in India where Bhopal gas tragedy took place. He also emphasized on
the content of the panel discussions of the elections. He said that
the crony in crony capitalism is the media. He even mentioned that
when Wall Street collapsed and the whole world was going through a
economic recession, the only companies which made profit were the
food, agricultural and water related companies. 60% of the wheat of
the global market is controlled by index funds and investment funds.
Hunger and thirst are the greatest crops of the world. The present
phase of capitalism understands and recognizes that all resources
linked to food and water must be grabbed. Hunger is not a function of
scarcity and distribution but it is a function of super monopoly of
profits. Industries of extraction which are responsible for the
greatest displacements in the country are there as well. The response
of the capitalist state is criminalization of dissent when people
resist to such activities of the state. Sainath also spoke about the
menace of capitalism which results in mass migration, malnourishment
in children, farmers suicides, etc. He finally said that the oft-held
view that 'legislations can solve all problems' is just an illusion.
Chair
Justice Rajinder Sachar opined that the constitution is not only
drafted by fathers but also by mothers. He said that it is written in
the preamble of our constitution that India is a socialist state but
actually it is not followed. Those who do not recognize the preamble
should be treated as traitors. He said that the state provides
protection to the corporates rather than the people.
The
first speaker of the next session (panel discussion) was Prof.
Vibhuti Patel, Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and
Inclusive Policy, SNDT Women's University, Mumbai. She said that in
the name of economic policies the policies which the government is
bringing is totally anti-people. She talked about the wretched
conditions of the workers and the unorganized sector. She explained
the difference between the labourers who have education and skills
and the labourers which do not have them. She stated how capitalism
pampers only those limited people who have skills and deprive the
others of everything. She said that the condition of women is
extremely poor because of capitalism as they have been reduced to a
commodity. She mentioned the increasing disparity of the rich and
poor.
Prof.
Achin Vanaik (former Dean of Social Sciences, Delhi University) said
that at the macro level, there is some democracy in India. There are
some rights and governance but at the micro level there is total
undemocracy. When capitalism changes, democracy also changes its
form. Since 1991 there has been a rightward shift in Indian democracy
and this phenomena is dangerous for Indian democracy. This shift of
democracy affected all the minorities of India, ie. the class
minorities, caste minorities, religious minorities, ethnic
minorities and adivasis, landless labourers and women the most.
Prof.
Ramesh Dixit from Lucknow (UP) said that the relationship of
capitalism and democracy started with the French revolution with the
slogans of liberty, equality and fraternity. These are the slogans
which unfolds the system which today we know as democracy. But over
time, according to the requirements of capitalism, things have
changed. The state as an institution is moving towards fascist design
and doesn’t depend on any individual party. Democracy still has
potential and if all the oppressed minorities are united then we can
find some relief.
The
second day started with a panel on”Surveillance state and perils of
DEMOCRACY.” Snehashish Ghosh from Centre for Internet &
Society, Bangalore said that surveillance on people should be done
within a fair, just and reasonable process. He spoke about targeted
surveillance and blanket surveillance.
Ms.
Subi Chaturvedi (Asstt. Prof. of Journalism & Communication, Lady
Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi Univ. & Founder & Hon.
Managing Trustee, Media For Change) spoke about the role of internet
and media in todays time. She explained the various aspects of
surveillance. When advertising becomes more important than editorial
policies then the media will lose on its ethics and values. That’s
what has happened with media in this capitalist world. The matter of
corporate control and surveillance is somehow related.
Prabir
Purkayastha of Delhi Science Forum said that there are three kinds of
surveillance. The first kind is by the state and the country. The
second is mass surveillance and the third kind is surveillance by
companies. When crime takes place, surveillance can be done on that
person. But mass surveillance is not justified in any way. There is
no legal framework for mass surveillance. Internet should be given a
basic legal framework.
The
concluding panel was on “Suppressing dissent: Stifling NGOs via
FCRA.” Supreme Court advocate Kabir Dixit said that in a democracy
it is our right to read, write and voice our view. It is even a right
to associate and organize on the basis of the opinions, it is our
fundamental right to raise resources for the exercise of organizing
and expressing our views. FCRA wants us to be embarrassed about being
political, embarrassed about organizing and raising resources.
Political organizations are basically barred from raising funds.
Mathew
Cherian, Chairperson of Credibility Alliance said that his position
on FCRA is that it is against voluntary action. FCRA says that people
who work with poor and the backward class are political. He gives
suggestions to the various organizations, asks them to write down
accounts in a very transparent manner. The accounts should be shown
to the people and all the organizations should unite and fight
against such laws as FCRA.
No comments:
Post a Comment