30 January 1944: All India Schdeuled Caste Federation Conference was held at Kanpur under the chairperson-ship of N Shivraj.

This was the second such conference of the federation and it went on till the next day i.e. 31 January 1944.

30 January 2000: Press release by Manyawar Kanshi Ram on the review of constitution.

The press release was on the backdrop of the Warning given by the President of India (K R Narayananan) to the Nation and Government while speaking in the Central Hall of Parliament on 27 January 2000, the 50 year of framing of Indian Constitution. He had advised the Government of India not to go in for a review of the Constitution, but to study and analyse the way the successive Governments were working to implement the Constitution and various provisions there in. The Governnment of India was headed by A B Vajpayee (Bhartiya Janta Party). The press release by Manyawa Kanshi Ram (Bahujan Samaj Party) is as follows:

“I welcome the warning sounded by the President about the Government’s move to Review the Constitution.  It is strange that instead of clearly identifying the areas where Review or Amendment is needed, the Government is keeping everything under the cloak of secrecy, by proposing a Review of the whole Constitution.

The Constitution of India as drafted by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, although not fully accepted still, reflected the aspirations and hopes of the vast millions, who were made to live degraded sub human lives for centuries.  As a result of the change in the Political and Social Scenario brought by the Constitution, the shackles of the old social system have weakened, and now there is tremendous awareness and awakening in the Bahujan Samaj.  In fact, the political instability which has been witnessed in the last few years is the result of social mobility and dynamism of the Weaker Sections which has been generated by the constitutional framework.  The political stability of yester years, was the result of not strong popular base of the political parties, but the strict political control exercised by the socially dominant groups over the Bahujan Samaj.

Saheb Kanshi Ram

Today, the situation has changed.   The vast millions are refusing to accept the political hegemony of the small dominant social groups, and have started asserting themselves to attain not only self respect and dignity, but a share in power commensurate with their numerical strength.   As this struggle is gaining strength, the resistance from the ruling social elite to yield is also coming into play.  The proposed Review of the Constitution is nothing but an attempt to bring changes in the Constitution, in the name of ensuring stability to perpetuate the rule of the socially dominant groups, and stifle and suppress the aspirations of the newly awakened social groups. Here, I would like to recall the warning given by Dr. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly, where while pointing out the Contradiction of Political Equality and Social Inequality, he said “We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment, or else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of Political Democracy, which this Assembly has so laboriously built up.”

What we need to ensure at this juncture, is not stability through Constitutional Provisions, but stability by implementing existing provisions to secure a social order, in which, justice, social economic and political, shall inform all the institutions of national life, and eliminate all inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities not only amongst individuals, but also amongst groups of People in the Country. The problem is not the Constitution, but the people who have the authority, but have no will and desire, to implement and uphold the Constitution. 

Lastly, I would like to assert that BSP will oppose, any and every move to undermine the socio-economic spirit of the Constitution, and will do everything to save the basic features of the Constitution, which inter-alia include a responsible Parliamentary form of Government.  Implied therein, is the concept of Government surviving only as long as it enjoys majority in Parliament. Any attempt to change this system, in the name of stability, will not be acceptable.   Once again, I would like to say that, I totally share the apprehensions expressed by the President of India, and congratulate him for giving timely warning to the Nation.”

Sd /-

( Kanshi Ram )

30-01-2000

National President

Bahujan Samaj Party