On March 7, a joint conference of representatives from Uttarandhra and the twin Godavari districts was convened at the Ekalavya Training Centre in Ravulapalem to address the pressing issue of “Threats to the Constitution from the Government and the Role of Youth in Safeguarding It.” The gathering saw the participation of approximately 90 delegates from these regions.
Fr. Simharayulu, Associate Director of PARA, commenced the session with a gracious welcome to the esteemed guests and speakers of the day. Meanwhile, Durga, Isaiah, and Prabhakar invigorated the gathering with stirring melodies, evoking the indomitable spirit of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
The distinguished keynote speaker for the event was Professor Murali Karnam from NALSAR University. He led two pivotal sessions—one dissecting the complex discourse on nationalism and another providing insights into the discussions and resolutions of the Indian Constituent Assembly. His comprehensive analysis of the constitutional drafting process underscored the fundamental importance of rights, secularism, social justice, and the federal rights of states. The inaugural session was presided over by Sister Manjula Devarapalli (NDCW), while the second session was chaired by Manchala Dinabandhu.
In the subsequent discussions, Rajesh Yedida from the Human Rights Forum (HRF) meticulously outlined contemporary threats to the Indian Constitution, illustrating them through examples of policy manipulations and systematic attacks on individuals and institutions. He emphasized the urgent need to safeguard democratic values and constitutional integrity.
In the same session, Dr. Anjayya provided a historical perspective on the evolution of suffrage in India. He highlighted that universal adult suffrage was granted only after extensive deliberation, recalling debates within the Constituent Assembly that considered restricting voting rights to landowners, taxpayers, and the educated elite—thereby excluding women and marginalized communities. Democratic forces, led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, strongly opposed such exclusionary measures, ensuring that universal suffrage was enshrined in the Constitution. Dr. Anjayya lamented the current erosion of this fundamental right due to widespread electoral malpractices.
Another esteemed speaker, D. Ramesh Patnaik, shed light on large-scale irregularities in the 2024 general elections. Citing a report by Vote for Democracy, he alleged that the Election Commission engaged in egregious misconduct, with 4.9 million votes tampered with nationwide and Andhra Pradesh alone witnessing a 4.16% discrepancy. He contended that such manipulations had enabled individuals rejected by the electorate to ascend to power. Nevertheless, he asserted that public representatives must uphold constitutional principles regardless of electoral outcomes. He urged citizens to resist legislative measures that undermine workers, employees, farmers, and tribal communities, as well as those that threaten religious harmony, social justice, and federalism. In particular, he called for collective opposition to the Waqf Bill and stressed the need to pressure regional parties in Andhra Pradesh to prevent its passage. This intellectually stimulating session, featuring three prominent speakers, was skillfully moderated by Mr. Domathotti Abraham Master.
The conference concluded with a session on future strategies, chaired by Thomas Pallithanam. It was unanimously resolved that similar deliberative forums must be organized on a broader scale. Delegates committed to hosting forthcoming conferences in Kakinada, Eluru, and the erstwhile districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam.
Notable participants in the conference included Penki Chittibabu (Vizianagaram), Sheikh Ansari (Ravulapalem), Kuppili Anil (Srikakulam), Mr. Ramachandra Kishore (Vizianagaram), J. Chinna Rao (Visakhapatnam), Meera Moinuddin (Rajahmundry), and Narasimhamurthy (Kakinada). Unfortunately, K.M.A. Subhan (Meluko Andhra Pradesh), whose presence would have been a valuable addition, was unable to attend due to unavoidable circumstances.
