Swatantra Party @ 60

The greatest Indian liberal C Rajagopalachari alies Rajaji founded the Swatantra Party, 60 years ago to fight with Nehru's socialist ideas and project.

The following some of the interesting reading, which is worth to read and ponder for the current political economy of India:

60 Years ago, a Right liberal Swatantra Party had challenged Nehru's socialist Raj by JAITHIRTH RAO 

FNF South Asia has brought out a new book on "How Liberal Is India? New Book Addresses State of Freedom in the Biggest Democracy on Earth"

The full book is available in PDF here.

I have read the Chapter 5 on Why India does not have a Liberal Party? by Kumar Anand.

The following are my comments to the above chapter:

Mr Kumar says in the above chapter "The market does exist for a liberal party. Farmers are waiting.It is up to the liberals to take

advantage of this. (Page 75)"

Since, the property right has been removed out of fundamental rights under Indian Constitute, nobody would like to talk about it because it is a right like any other right under the constitution. So we need to restore the property right back to Fundamental Rights. In India, among liberals, who is convinced to fight for it now? So this is also ruled out that it is not going to happen in our lifetime. Also, the general feeling is that why do we want to get back to fundamental rights? SO there is not demand for it now. First, most fails to understand the urgency of it and secondly the mobilizations to fight for it is not happening.

Moreover, the political market in India is closed within the ambit of "Socialist" values in the Indian Constitution allegedly amended by the Indira Gandhi during the Emergency period. Unless, we liberals remove the word socialist under Indian constitution, the dream for liberal party is not possible in our lifetime.

 

In 1976, "The 42nd Amendment amended Preamble and changed the description of India from "sovereign democratic republic" to a "sovereign, socialist secular democratic republic", and also changed the words "unity of the nation" to "unity and integrity of the nation"."

So, talking about socialism and welfare state is a vital tool for all political parties in India to get engaged with public for vote and other matters.

If you talk about free market in political platform, it is a sin and always favours for crony capitalists,that is how the public memory is now, for long time. And the Election Commission of India will ban the political parties which is not adhering to the socialist values.

Do read this article by eminent lawyer