An Open Letter to SC Senior Ministers in the NDA Cabinet of
PM Narendra Modi – International Day of Equality
The month of September every year cajoles me to get up and
say my mind on the much neglected and marginalized proposal on April 14,
birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar as International Day of Equality under the aegis
of UN as yearly ritual of UNGA takes place in New Year in the second half of
September. From India, either PM or EAM or both generally participate in the UNGA and address the international community
from the high podium of the world body.
Though a long time has passed since the proposal was made in June, 2015 and the GOI is blissfully silent yet my gut feeling tells me that it is increasingly becoming difficult to ignore the greatest son of India Babasaheb Ambedkar. One may or may not like it – Powers in
Delhi would ignore Ambedkar at their own peril. GOI (MEA) has already joined the process by installing and unveiling the statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar at PMI at Geneva, the second most important seat of the UN, dealing with issues of Equality and Human Rights. EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar tweeted in social Media, “Paid my respects to Dr.Bhimrao Ambedkar , the architect of the Indian Constitution at India UN at Geneva. Babasaheb’s vision of social justice, Equality and progressive modernity is an inspiration for the world.” New York would not be far behind, to my mind.
In continuation of my blog on the subject which may be
accessed at: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2024/08/as-i-please-international-day-of.html
I thought of writing
an open letter to the Dalit Ministers in the Cabinet of PM Narendra Modi,
seeking and soliciting their understanding and support to the proposal on
International Day of Equality. The text of the letter dated September 18, 2024
addressed to Ministers Jitan Ram Manjhi, Chirag Paswan, Dr. Virendra Kumar and
Arjun Ram Meghwal is appended below.
Let us hope these dalit Ministers join us and urge the NDA
Government under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi to wake up and come out of
the ‘lip service’ phase and give his due to the greatest icon of contemporary
India.
मेरी अदा को
दवाना तो खैर मुमकिन है;
मगर नई अवाम
की आवाज कौन रोकेगा?
Appendix – Text of Letter dated September 18, 2024 to all the
SC Senior Ministers
September 18, 2024
Subject - An Open
Letter to Dalit Ministers in the NDA Government – International Day of Equality
Respected Hon’ble Ministers,
You might have heard of the proposal to declare April 14
(birth day of Babasaheb Ambedkar) as International Day of Equality under the
aegis of the UN. The proposal is resting with the GOI (MEA/PMO) since June,
2015. After its initiation with the then EAM Sushma Swaraj, it reached PM
Narendra Modi in November, 2015 in a Memorandum submitted by the Forum of SC
MPs and MLAs under the stewardship of the then Speaker of Punjab Legislative
Assembly, Sardar Charanjit Singh Atwal with a delegation of all the Ministers
in the GOI including Ram Vilas Paswan, Thavar Chand Gehlot, Ramdas Athawale
among others. In pursuance of these activities, for the first time, Dr.
Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary was celebrated at the UN in New
York in April, 2016 with the initiative of the GOI and rightly so. Sardar
Charanjit Singh Atwal, Head of the Forum of SC MPs, who led the GOI sponsored
delegation to participate in the celebrations at the UN mentioned and supported
the proposal on International Day of Equality in his address at the UN function.
On return, Atwal Sahib submitted his report to PM Narendra Modi in May, 2016
and informed him of his initiative and urged the Hon’ble PM to consider and
advise the MEA to take appropriate steps to make a diplomatic demarche to UN on
the proposed International Day of Equality. Since then, we have been reminding
the powers in Delhi especially; MEA and PMO religiously but, regrettably,
nothing much has moved. Meanwhile, with the collaboration and support of some
of the Ambedkarite, Ravidassia, Buddhist and other stake holders and outfits
abroad, we could succeed in convincing the local authorities. As a result, to
our satisfaction, many Cities and Provinces in Canada, US, UK and others have
declared April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar as “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of
Equality. But, surprisingly, GOI is blissfully silent on the proposal to honour
one of the greatest sons of India, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
With a view to cut the story short and knowing full well that
Hon’ble Ministers have much to do otherwise, I take the liberty of listing here
my latest blog on the subject which provide you some more details and
information on the proposal on International Day of Equality: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2024/08/as-i-please-international-day-of.html
You would observe, Sirs that the proposal on International
Day of Equality would not only honour the greatest icon of India, Babasaheb
Ambedkar but il would further strengthen India’s cultural and soft diplomacy. I
will be grateful, therefor, if you spare a few moments out of your busy
schedule and read and consider my submissions. Your support in the matter is
much needed and earnestly solicited. EAM and PM are going to address the UNGA
in the coming days. It is time to urge and alert them to consider and include
the proposal on International Day of Equality in their Briefs for their
interaction at the UN.
With regards,
Yours truly,
(Ramesh Chander)
All the SC Senior Ministers
in the GOI
10th ofDecember
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