Dear Philip,
I am thankful to you for sending us a
copy of your letter addressed to Mrs. Indira Gandhi on October 9. I have also
received a letter, Leopold addressed to our Church on October 22. Our Church
bodies are yet to have an opportunity to study these letters officially. However
I intend to give you a sum up of the outcome of informal discussions I had with
a few groups and my personal conversations with some individuals who evinced
interest in this matter.
For sure, it is not within my
authority to respond to a letter you addressed to our Prime Minister. She will
give you a suitable reply at an opportune time. As far as I perceive, most
Indians are a lot angered mentally. All of them are not employed by the
government. They are of the view that you have demonstrated a sort of senselessness
in writing such a letter to the Prime Minister and that it is nothing but an
encroachment to the internal affairs of India on the one hand and not throwing
enough light into the crux of the real issue on the other.
Indeed, I tried my best to make my
friends understand that the World Council of Churches is a body that is keenly
anxious about the welfare of humankind and that they have interfered to
convince those in power wherever there were incidents attacking the basic human
rights of people. The following are the main issues you presented in your
letter:
1.
You
have expressed concern on arresting many people purely on political grounds and
keeping them in jails without trials thereby denying them protection of courts
of justice.
2.
You
have commented that the action of the government taking over the authority to
arrest and keep people in jails without issuing charge sheets under the guise
of amended internal security regulations and denying them all personal freedom
are nothing but serious aggressions on human rights of citizens.
3.
The
state of Emergency was extended beyond three months.
4.
You
have stated that the control imposed on information media is tantamount to
denying opportunities equally to all segments of citizens to take part in
national development processes.
5.
You
have expressed the necessity to free political detainees and to reinstate
democratic rights.
6.
You
have appealed to release Jayaprakash Narayanan and such others who have been
maintaining moral ethics and truthfulness in politics.
I am aware that the Council of Churches
has its own centers to gather information. Moreover, your working committee is
well equipped with people who are good enough to collect data and evaluate
situations. Yet, your letter does not carry any hints as to whether you have
comprehended well enough to discuss anything at depth regarding the issues under
these circumstances. However, I am thankful to the letter from Leopold calling
for our opinion as Christians living in this scenario.
I believe, you will pardon me if I
say that the theoretical framework you have formulated to evaluate the current
circumstances is too inadequate in my view.
You say about primary human rights
and the recognized modalities associated with democratic processes. Shouldn’t
we, as Christians, have concern about the democratic system we have as one that
provides opportunities to the wealthy and powerful to exploit and subjugate the
poor? Do you think that it is possible for the ordinary men and women to
approach courts of justice or they are protected by other legal systems in most
democratic countries? Can we say that whatever is expressed through the media
of democratic nations reflect the views of the ordinary public?
One lacuna I have noted in your
letter is your not making any mention of the circumstances that led to
proclamation of a national internal emergency. By specifically demanding the
release of Jayaprakash Narayanan at this stage, I see your joining hands with
right wing and left wing democratic extremists who are taking the nation to a rebellion
through non democratic insurgences. The latest news we have is that Jayaprakash
is being released on parole. I don’t find any injustice in having arrested or
detained him.
I can affirmatively say that by proclaiming
national emergency, participation of common men in national processes has not
diminished at all. This doesn’t mean that I have any great appreciation to the
measure of common man’s participation in national development processes prior
to declaration of emergency.
If at all there is any dilution at
any stage, such dilution pertains to the role played by the wealthy gang of
people who have been controlling our daily news papers. I don’t feel that the
control imposed over them is not an issue warranting this much anxiety. May be,
our news papers are somewhat dry now compared to what they used to be in the
past. It is true that they are now under control. The reason behind this is that they were
causing damages to the political ambience of our country by publishing exaggerated
pieces of news and views propagated by the right wing and left wing extremist groups.
It is not true that news papers are the most important vehicle opening way for
the involvement of common man in the nation building process. Ordinary men and
women take part in such process even now as they were doing before.
Let me record my firm view here that
the government initiatives or national programs we have here are far from
adequate for eradication of poverty or reinstatement of justice. I am not at
all justifying the current capitalist system of governance prevailing here in
the name of a socialist model. However, destroying the existing system without
working out ways and means to sustain a political structure based on democratic
principles can give rise to inexplicable sufferings to the millions of common
men and women here.
During the time of Mrs. Gandhi’s
government, the strong wealthy segment in India was not allowed complete
freedom. She questioned the high level influence they were enjoying in the economy.
Attempts to contain corruption and anti national activities as also the
nationalization of major banks were strong indications of this.
Anti Indira movement came up as a
sequel to the strong outrages initiated by the right wing extremists. At the same
time, left wing extremists showed interest to exploit extreme right wing powers
for their selfish agendum. Marxist Communist Party of India has been showing
signs of annihilation consequent to the short cuts they have been employing and
the lack of discipline within themselves. They are spreading anarchy
exclusively for their survival through regeneration. They have no hesitation to
align with religious fanatics or fascists to achieve their goal. They engage
themselves in anti democratic and anti parliamentary activities. Jayaprakash is
a politician with proven immaturity on the one hand and remarkable sanctity of
ideas on the other. He was a sign of patriotism embedded in sacrifices and a prominent
disciple of Vinoba Bhave, the Indian patriarch and an apolitical leader, but
transformed as the central point for right – left extremist powers to come
together. (He had already broken his
relationship with Vinoba Bhave) I shall explain
his political immaturity through two of his classic characteristics.
His personal enmity for Mrs. Gandhi made
him pass cheap comments to degrade her before the public.
In the absence of a platform with
constructive ideas and clarity, all opposition parties chose to join together.
I am quite sure that the enlightened
people of India are well aware that Jayaprakash possesses no better talents
than that of Mrs. Indira Gandhi to take up the leadership of a government.
He succeeded in earning good
following in Gujarat with help of Morarji Desai. Morarji was a pioneer
proponent of capitalism in India and was the chief opponent to Mrs. Indira
Gandhi; however, he doesn’t have a political future now. The wealthy bigwigs of
India and Western countries took interest to make him the supreme power here;
but Mrs. Gandhi literally crushed him. His ill feelings to Mrs. Gandhi can be
compared with only that of Jayaprakash. He has expressed his desire to join
hands not only with the backfired out of the date congressmen but also with the
religious fanatics such as Janasangh and RSS. Western governments are extending
their support to someone like Jayaprakash. WCC shall not be a party to be
supportive to such people.
The movements of protest have been
far distanced from non violence. Lots of ugly methodologies were employed such
as murder, setting things to fire, looting, Gherao, Bandh and the like. New
innovations of these kinds are invented under new names. Parliament members are
being threatened to resign. Minister of Railways is assassinated. An attempt
was made at the life of the Chief Justice of India. Things are moving like this
leading the nation to a sort of anarchy.
We are seeing what is happening in Bangladesh, our neighbor country. We
are hopeful of avoiding a similar scenario in India.
Jayaprakash called upon the people to
engage in anti democratic activities. He forcibly made members of parliament to
resign, imposed Gherao on them, initiated steps to freeze normal functioning of
government offices, persuaded people not to pay taxes, worked out parallel
governing system, stood against legal court’s rulings, called upon armed forces
to revolt and so on. He took up the responsibility of spreading violence on
himself and turned out to be the spokesperson thereof. Not that he did not
stand for basic human rights, but was against them. By extending support to
him, one is aligning with the enemies of democratic processes.
According to what I understand, Mrs.
Indira Gandhi saved the country by proclaiming internal emergency. Before
emergency came into force, economy of the country was on the verge of a
collapse. Moreover, the political anarchy would have caused a total breakdown
or explosion of the system.
Had the media been totally free,
pieces of news would have reached far and wide causing such a breakdown and
revolution spread all over the country. Putting them under effective control
was necessary to avoid a situation of political anarchy. Evil forces would have
used news papers for spreading anarchy because the wealthy segments of the society
were overseeing them.
It is necessary that the internal
emergency continue for some more time. It is dangerous to withdraw it at this
stage.
A large number of political detainees
stand released as of now without any publicity. Most of the detainees now are
black marketers, dealers of contraband goods, smugglers and such other
criminals.
Had they been left free from
detention, they would have succeeded in seeking counsel from the highly
efficient lawyers who are capable to create adequate loop holes in the legal system
to get them released. They have enough and more financial strength for this.
The legitimate economic structure of
the country is growing fast. What stands shattered is the illegal economy of
black money. This has been causing troubles to the industry producing luxurious
products. Consequent to the internal emergency, this is one issue that stands
regulated. This is an issue common to Asian, African and Latin American
countries which needs to be tackled with utmost care.
In short, based on the different
issues covered in your letter, I am summing up below, what I have as a reply
for you.
1.
A
large number of people are arrested and detained in jails without any trials. I
am not sure about their number. But a good number of them stand released.
2.
Majority
of such detainees are from RSS who are fascists in nature and also a few Ananda
Margis. Smugglers, black marketers and dealers of contraband goods are another
segment of detainees. Along with them, there are a few Sarvodaya leaders and
some belonging to CPM. There is justification in asking the government to
publish the details of those who are under detention.
3.
I
don’t think that detainees are being tortured in their confinement. There may
be some complaints here and there that some Police officers have used the alibi
of emergency to settle scores with others. Government is ready to rectify
mistakes and to give compensation to those who have experiences of misuse of
emergency, provided complaints with full details are submitted to the concerned
authorities.
4.
There
are a few reports about low grade jail employees having misbehaved with
detainees. However, there are no reasons to believe that there are systematic
and orderly harassments on detainees. I have spoken to some of the released
detainees on this issue.
5.
We
have incidents of human rights being violated. However, most of the detainees
are black market dealers and smugglers. Therefore, inconveniences to common men
are too rare.
6.
There
were open discussions and sharp attack on government during four or five meetings
organized about the current national scenario in which I had participated. As
you feel, people are not staying inside with mouths shut off in fear, at least
until now. Though outcome of such discussions unfavorable to the government are
not published through media, there are open discussions among us.
7.
The
internal emergency may be extended for a few more months. The demand for an
early withdrawal of emergency is justifiable, but it is not that crucial an
issue. I am confident that it will be withdrawn at the right time.
8.
I
don’t wish to fall into the trap of a few positives of autocratic regimes at
the cost of their short term gains. Moreover, I don’t propose that the state of
emergency can answer all our long term problems. Yet, I take the quick gains thereof
as worthy.
(a)
The
irresponsible activities and political agitations of students and public are
now under control which has created an atmosphere of responsibility all over.
This sense of discipline may last for some time.
(b) There has been considerable
improvement in the efficiency of governance at Central and state administrations.
(c)
There
has been a peaceful atmosphere in most of our industrial belts that targeted
growth is achieved. The shattered public sector got vitalized all on a sudden.
(d) The large parallel economic structure
that was very active in the country defying all laws of the land such as black
money, contraband goods, bribery, hoarding and the like has been exposed and
brought under control. As of now, this field is not seen, by and large.
Withdrawal of emergency may cause its resurgence.
(e) So long Mrs. Gandhi is in power,
wealthy bigwigs would not be allowed to overturn the common men. She may have to compromise here and there
looking into the forthcoming elections, but we hope that such compromises would
be within certain limits.
9.
Your
arguments about people getting involved in the nation building process are not
formulated systematically. Allowing freedom of press, freedom to organize and
freedom of expression need not make public involvement a reality. These types
of freedom are necessary in a community, no doubt. Before proclamation of
emergency, all these were available here in large measures. Yet, involvement of
people was a big zero. The reason thereof can be attributed to formulation of
national schemes and their implementation confined to legalities and the conservative
methodologies of putting them on field by government officials.
There were no efficient efforts from
the Congress party to raise cadets trained in the basics of agriculture and
industries. Our future rests in these elements even now. Such things are not
within the freedom to get organized and expressing opinions as the western
ideological philosophers openly believe. Leopold, in his letter has pointed out
the weakness of Christians to align with the statuesque that is not subject to
criticism yet, too emotional in character, which is a consequence of their over
dependence and high regard for law and order. You are well aware that I have
brought up these issues openly in many of my speeches. However, the prophetic
culture that is emotional, but not subject to being criticized, shall be viewed
by me with an equally critical mind. I believe that the ultimate virtues of
Christianity are the open statements criticizing the statuesque. Our liberal
minded Christian brethren often fall into timely and untimely prophetic culture
which is sort of middle class weakness.
Let me record here that I have
discordance with many of the statements of Mr MM Thomas, the current President
of Central Committee. I don’t say that
he wishes to be a martyr. I don’t even say that he is endangering something
which other Christians should not endanger, just utilizing his international
position. My opposition to him lies with his criticisms that do not contain
enough depth or farsightedness, causing others to lose way. I feel, it is
enough that we need to have an open debate on these issues only after private discussions with MM Thomas, Leopold
and Ninan Koshy at Nairobi.
After you’re taking over the charge,
and going forward with the heavy tasks of the first assembly, I wish you that
you are showered with Providential Blessings.
My loving regards to you and Derrin.
In harmony with Christ,
Paulos Gregorios
(Translated from Malayalam by George Joseph Enjakkattil)
