– Mohd.Naushad Khan
Citizens for Democracy (CFD) commemorated its Golden Jubilee by paying floral tributes to founding presidents—Jayaprakash Narayan, Justice M C Chagla, Prof. V V John, Justice V M Tarkunde, and Kuldip Nayar—while renewing its commitment to constitutional values and the idea of India.
Founded in 1974 by Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan during a two-day conference on April 13–14 at the Gandhi Peace Foundation in Delhi, CFD marked 50 years at the same venue on April 19–20.
CFD President S. R. Hiremath, recalling the contributions of the founding members, urged like-minded individuals and organizations across the country to unite in involving the younger generation with democratic values and the spirit of the Constitution.
He highlighted the global rise of right-wing forces, the escalating climate crisis, and threats to world peace in regions like Ukraine and the Middle East. He called for rededication to CFD’s ideals and collective action among people’s movements and networks to address these challenges in India and worldwide.
Chief Guest Justice Madan Lokur, in his inaugural address, discussed the erosion of constitutional morality, focusing on the Parliament, the government, governors, corruption, bulldozer justice, and the rule of law. He emphasized that even a flawed Constitution could work well if implemented by principled individuals.
Justice Lokur raised concern over the conduct of state governors, stating they are meant to remain politically neutral and act as a bridge between the state and the Centre to avoid federal conflicts. He noted that in recent years, some governors have been acting as agents of the Central Government, particularly in states ruled by opposition parties.
He criticized the practice of governors delaying assent to bills passed by state legislatures—sometimes for 2 to 3 years—despite these legislatures representing the will of the people. He stressed that while governors have the authority to withhold assent, doing so indefinitely violates constitutional morality, harms governance, and ultimately affects the people.
