Kolhapur- In a village in the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra, the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, a campaign initiated by the Central Government, faced a roadblock when a social activist Rajvaibhav intervened. His objection centered around the use of the BJP flag instead of the tricolor and the reference to "Modi Sarkarachi Hamin" (Guarantee of Modi Govt) on the chariot, deeming it a violation of Article 1 of the Constitution.
This led to a confrontation, drawing the attention of the police. Rajvaibhav asserted that such practices contravene constitutional rules, emphasizing that any campaign is representative of the central government and should not utilize taxpayers' money for individual-centric displays. The village residents rallied against the chariot, resulting in the Rath Yatra being compelled to turn back.
The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, spanning all districts of Maharashtra, reached Soniachi Shiroli village in Radhanagari tehsil on December 13. With a population of around three thousand and five hundred houses, the village became a focal point for Rajvaibhav's activism.
After halting the Rath Yatra, Rajvaibhav posed questions that the organizers couldn't answer. Rajvaibhav delved into the concerns surrounding the campaign, particularly questioning the validity of associating the government with an individual's name. He challenged the use of the Modi government's guarantee on the chariot and the absence of the tricolor, highlighting the dominance of the BJP flag.
Rajvaibhav further inquired about the expenditure of taxpayer money on the BJP's promotional activities, criticizing the lack of representation of the Government of India on the chariot. His persistent questioning prompted the organizers to leave the village without providing satisfactory answers.
The Mooknayak spoke to Rajvaibhav to get more details on the confrontation. He says, the Sankalp Yatra is being run in Maharashtra. A chariot has been prepared, on which it is written - 'Modi Sarkarachi Hamin,' meaning the guarantee of the Modi government! I questioned this. The government can be in the name of any country. The government cannot be in the name of any individual. I had only asked the people who came with the Rath Yatra whether the government is in the name of any one person. Can it be in the name of a person? How can this be a guarantee given by the Modi government?
Rajvaibhav explains further, " I had asked the second question - that the national flag of the Government of India is the tricolor. Why are only two colors visible in this chariot which appears to be the BJP flags. You have come to our village to promote the scheme of the Government of India, and why is there nothing in this chariot to represent the Government of India? Why are there big flex and photos of Modi Ji in it? "
Highlighting a constitutional perspective, Rajvaibhav underscored that Section 1 of the Constitution stipulates India can only be referred to as India or Bharat, making any other name a violation of Article 1.
Rajvaibhav, an electrical engineering graduate, has been spearheading the Samvidhan Samvadak campaign across 26 districts of Maharashtra for the past six years. This initiative aims to impart the significance of the Constitution to people through conversations without formal speeches.
Kolhapur, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj, holds historical significance as the capital of Radhanagari, named after Maharaj's daughter, Radha. Currently a tehsil in Kolhapur district, Radhanagari bears witness to the legacy of the Dalit thinker.
Story Translated by Geetha Sunil Pillai
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