Ideologies on which country is based facing danger: Meira


Team Udayavani, Jul 10, 2017, 9:49 AM IST

Srinagar/Chandigarh: The contest for the country’s highest office is a battle between two ideologies, the opposition’s presidential nominee Meira Kumar said today claiming that the “principles and ideologies” on which the country is based were facing danger.

Kumar, who met leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana, to seek support, said in Srinagar today that the opposition wanted to make the presidential poll an election of principles.

“These are the principles which are close to my heart and to the hearts of most of the people of this country. India is united because we believe in these principles. There are so many religions in the country, so many cultures, ideologies and languages, but despite that, the country is united only because of these principles,” she said.

Kumar claimed that the presidential poll was an opportunity to stop a danger that is lurking against the “principles and the ideologies” on which the country was based.

“Since some time now, a danger is lurking on these principles and ideologies and if that is not stopped immediately, then it is possible that the coming days will be lost in the dark,” she claimed.

Kumar said that she had written letters to all the members of the collegium the MPs and the MLAs irrespective of their parties asking them to listen to the voice of their conscience and support her.

In Chandigarh, Kumar said that she had respect for rival NDA contestant Ram Nath Kovind, but the upcoming election was a battle of two ideologies.

“Earlier, the presidential election used to be a fight between two individuals. For the first time, it is going to be a contest between two ideologies,” 72-year-old Kumar said.

To a query, she said it was a “sad situation” that the presidential poll was being dubbed as a ‘Dalit vs Dalit’ contest.

“When an election to the highest office is being held, the Dalit issue is being raised. Earlier, the capabilities, merits and achievements of the two candidates used to be discussed and no one talked about their caste,” she said.

Kumar lamented that since the battle this time was between her and former Bihar governor Kovind, both of whom were Dalits, nothing else was being discussed but their caste.

“We are in the 21st century and India wants to become a modern country. But, this kind of a mindset is a mismatch when it comes to the aspirations of a modern nation,” she said.

Kumar said India always stood up against communalism and casteism. “But now, we have been seeing that these (communalism, casteism) are being promoted and therefore, we are worried. We feel that the coming days are going to be dark,” she added.

Asked about Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar not supporting her, Kumar replied that “this happens in life and most often in politics that some friends have such thinking”.

Asked if the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was supporting her candidature, Kumar answered in the affirmative. “We are getting their support,” she said.

She refused to comment on Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s assertion that the opposition should have announced its candidate for the presidential poll before the ruling NDA saying, “What can I say to this?” 

In Chandigarh, Kumar met the Congress MLAs and MPs from Punjab and Haryana to seek their support for the July 17 presidential poll.

She was accompanied by senior Congress leaders Salman Khurshid, Asha Kumari, Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar and Haryana Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhary.

In Kashmir, Kumar addressed a joint meeting of legislators and senior leaders of NC and Congress. CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami was also present at the meeting.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

SC notice to Karnataka, DK Shivakumar on CBI plea against withdrawal of consent by state govt

Will remain active in politics till my last breath: JD(S) patriarch & ex-PM Deve Gowda

BJP calls Congress govt ‘laughing stock’ as ‘samosa politics’ heats up in Himachal

Chikkaballapur: Yoga teacher feigns death by holding her breath, escapes murder bid

World Bunts Summit to be held in Mumbai on December 7

SC dismisses PIL seeking CBI probe into Tirupati laddus row

Salman Khan gets another threat; message sent to Mumbai traffic police helpline

Related Articles More

No greater feeling than serving those in need: Outgoing CJI D Y Chandrachud

CJI Chandrachud: A legacy of landmark verdicts that shaped society and some controversy too

Akhilesh Yadav attacks BJP on demonetisation anniversary

DeMo paved way for monopolies by devastating MSMEs, informal sector: Rahul on note ban anniversary

Comply with order allowing minority student to attend St Stephen’s College: HC tells DU

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

No greater feeling than serving those in need: Outgoing CJI D Y Chandrachud

Baikampady: Here, even elederly have to crawl under trains to cross tracks!

CJI Chandrachud: A legacy of landmark verdicts that shaped society and some controversy too

Neeraj Chopra to head to South Africa for off-season training later this month

Sensex, Nifty fall for 2nd day on FII selling; RIL, ICICI Bank major drag

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.