Draupadi Murmu struggled to raise her children, while also becoming a foremost social and political worker
Democracy serves people best when it’s inclusive. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, by picking up former Jharkhand governor Draupadi Murmu as its candidate for the July 18 Presidential election, has abided by the inclusive Dharma of democracy.
The two successful candidates of the NDA in the past who made to Rashtrapati Bhavan equally emphasised inclusivity and most suitable to hold the top Constitutional post. APJ Abdul Kalam, India’s missile man, not only lived to give the country strategic deterrence but also became a role model for all, particularly youth. His life was a living testimony to the Indian tradition of pursuit of knowledge and humility.
In Ram Nath Kovind, India got a President who was most humble and democratic, who opened the doors of Rashtrapati Bhavan for the people while being most courteous in his conduct and discharge of the duty. The political commentators sought to bracket him as the BJP’s Dalit bet, but he eventually proved that he could conduct the Constitutional duties most efficiently.
Murmu struggled all her life but beat the odds to raise her children, while also becoming a foremost social and political worker. From being a legislator, she proved her mettle in Odisha as a minister and thereafter as the governor of Jharkhand.
She would be the first tribal President of India since the NDA has the support of the Biju Janata Dal and the YSR Congress for the July 18 election. The BJP has for long been pursuing an inclusive agenda. Even in 1996, when the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government fell in 13 days despite being the single largest party, it had the largest number of the tribal MPs in its ranks. The BJP’s foremost commitment to take all sections of society has been an abiding principle.
Murmu will be a candidate in the Presidential election at a time when the Narendra Modi-led government has given a new hope to the tribal population in the country by taking his mantra of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Viswas aur Sabka Prayas’ to every nook and corner of the country, including the tribal areas in Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. During the rule of the United Progressive Alliance, Leftwing or Maoist extremism was at its peak; people talked about the Red Corridor, connecting the hotbed of Maoist violence in Nepal to the deep forests in Sukma in Chhattisgarh. The violence cost several lives of paramilitary forces.
The NDA government set out for course correction right at the outset, and gave hope to the tribal youth that they can see better future in the mainstream of society, as several welfare schemes brought benefits to the people without hassles, without paying bribes. The government’s honesty was visible, and the tribals of the country turned their backs to violence.
In the last few years, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Odisha have largely been peaceful, with a decline in Maoist violence.
When Murmu takes the oath of the office as the President of India, the tribal population will see the fulfillment of their political aspirations. They will see that one from among them is the first citizen of India.
The Aspirational District programme of the Central government was envisioned with clear objective that the gains of the development must reach the poorest of the poor, in accordance with the true of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.
The tribals have seen that they have been brought in the mainstream of the economy with financial inclusion, pucca houses with toilets, pension schemes and so on. They don’t need to fall for the allurements of the evangelists to embrace their religion.
The elevation of Murmu to the post of the President of India will be the firm democratic empowerment of the tribal population, as well as women of the country. She has thoroughly been a spiritual person and her association with Brahmakumaris is well known.
She was sweeping the floor of a temple a day after her name was announced by the BJP president JP Nadda; people have seen how humble a person she is. She stands for simplicity, spirituality.
She is a Constitutionalist, a firm believer in the Indian Constitution’s capacity to fulfill the aspirations of all sections of society. Her life is also a living testimony of perseverance. She never lost hope even when she faced personal losses. In her, India will have a President who will give hope to the vast majority of the people that all hardships can be won over with honesty and patience.
While the Opposition parties were busy in elimination rounds to find a candidate for the Presidential election, the BJP was thinking of national interest. When the BJP named Murmu as its Presidential candidate, even the rivals suggested that the contest has become one-sided. The Opposition candidate, Yashwant Sinha, can save his lost reputation by gracefully withdrawing from the Presidential election to pave way for the unanimous election of Murmu as India’s President.
The author is Director, Public Policy Research Centre (@Sumeetbhasin)
