Pune, Sep 16 (Agency) Haryana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta on Friday underlined the importance of coordination and balance between corporates and democracy along with a caution that if business is influencing the democracy, it is dangerous. It is important to make sure that corporate do not override the democracy. Contribution of corporates is important to strengthen country’s economy and employment opportunities. Third session on “Democracy and Corporatocracy – Where does the Power Lie?” of day two of 12’th Indian Student Parliament (BCS) organised by MIT World Peace University, MIT School of Government(MIT-SOG), Pune was graced by presence of Gian Chand Gupta and Suresh Kumar Khanna. Sanjay Singh, Padma Bhushan Gopalaswami, Smt Supriya Shrinate and Smt Bharati Ghosh were the other notable speakers. The session felicitated highly educated Sarpanch of different states of India with “Uccha Shikshit Aadarsh Yuva Sarpanch Samman.” Awardees were Ms Bhagyashree Lekami, Mr Kulwinder Bagha and Ms Samren Khan. “Aadarsh Yuva Vidhayak Samman” was conferred on Dr. Hiralal Alawa, Richards Johnkumar, and dr. Ragini Sonkar for their outstanding development work and promotion of parliamentary democracy.
Awards were conferred upon in presence of Rahul V. Karad President MAEER’s MIT WPU. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Finance, Uttar Pradesh Suresh Kumar Khanna said, “We are giving equal opportunities to corporates as well as MSMEs, and small scale businesses. CSR is an incredible initiative for nation building. We do not support lobbying. Rather under the same principle, government is always keen to help sick industries also.” He further appealed that youth should seriously think about ‘politics as a career’. While addressing the audience, National spokesperson BJP, Bharati Ghosh said, “Dynastic rule is biggest danger to the democracy.” She heavily criticised dynastic political families in Indian politics and revealed how power centre and priorities shift from party to family when they are headed by particular families.
This only concentrates loyalties, talents and ideologies around a family and nation building takes a backseat. This stops young talent from entering politics.” She further added asking students to come ahead in active politics and free the Indian politics from inequality and dynastic rules. Smt Supriya Shinate, Social Media and Digital Platform National Spokesperson and Member, Coordination Group, INC in her speech mentioned that there is shift of power from democracy to corporate in India. For economy to thrive and grow, there is a need for level playing fields in Indian corporate sector. She said, “Power should lie with people and it lies in the vote of an individual. But today, vote is losing its sheen.” While talking about shift she also highlighted monopoly like situation in various sectors and raised a concern about indirect control of media by corporates. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, journalist and author in his witty style painted picture of Indian politics, corruption in elections and electoral bonds, and inequality in the country. He said, “Mix of business and politics is not new to India or around the world. But now there is concentration of power in few hands.”
Sanjay Singh, Member of Parliament, Rajyasabha(AAP, NCT Delhi) brought an attention to politics around religion. Referencing to frauds like Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya he raised question on loan distribution system, unemployment and ignorance of government in addressing these issues. Quoting the proposal for disinvestment of public sector companies like LIC, SAIL, Coal India, IRCTC, he strongly criticised the privatisation. Audience was awestruck when he cited long list of dynastic political families in India and how showed how handful of families are ruling Indian politics. He said that dynastic politics should be ended. Youth should not run away from politics but enter the main stream politics.” Commenting upon relationship between corporate and democracy, Padma Bhushan N Gopalswami, former Chief election Commissioner of India, said, “ In democracy, whenever it gets too close to business, then it is danger to the country. Electoral bonds were supposed to bring transparency in election funding but exactly opposite has happened.” While sharing his experience about Indian Elections said, “I felt ashamed when I said, we have to conduct elections with police protection. India is biggest democracy, but is it best one? It is duty of youth to make it best democracy.”