Speaking, Allowing Others to Speak on Right and Wrong Is Democracy: Kashinath Nakhate

• Citizens must question the system and protect constitutional values, says labour leader

PIMPRI : The right to speak about what is right and wrong, and allowing others to express their views without fear even when there are disagreements, is at the heart of democracy, said labour leader Kashinath Nakhate.

He was speaking at an event organised in Chinchwad on the occasion of Democracy Day, where the preamble to the Indian Constitution was collectively read by members of the Kashtakari Sangharsh Mahasangh, Maharashtra Feriwala Kranti Mahasangh and Kashtakari Rickshaw-Taxi Chalak Sangharsh Mahasangh.

Addressing workers, street vendors, auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers and other members of the working community, Nakhate said democracy was not limited to elections or voting. Citizens have the right to question the government, raise their problems and oppose wrongdoing through constitutional means.

Referring to Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy as government “of the people, by the people, for the people”, Nakhate said the principle means that every citizen has an equal stake in the democratic system.

He said the Constitution guarantees equality and freedom of expression to citizens, making the voice of the weakest section of society equally important in a democracy. “Disagreement is a sign of democracy, but creating a free and safe environment to express that disagreement is equally important,” Nakhate said.

He also stressed the importance of the legislature, executive, judiciary and media as key pillars of democracy and said their independence and constitutional rights should remain protected from undue pressure.

Nakhate said challenges such as inflation, unemployment, corruption, workers’ issues and problems faced by people in the unorganised sector continue to affect society. The spread of false and misleading information on social media has added another challenge, he said. He urged citizens to remain vigilant, verify information, ask questions fearlessly and use constitutional means to raise their concerns.

True democracy, he said, lies in practising the values of equality, liberty, fraternity and justice in everyday life, and not merely in exercising the right to vote.