‘Ensure genuine opinion of majority but not at expense of minorities’
TRIBUTE Eminent economist Lord Meghnad Desai delivers first lecture, traces constitutional journey of British society
JAMMU: Recalling upheavals in the form of Scottish and Irish movements in the United Kingdom for more power and regional autonomy, economist, author and British politician, Lord Meghnad Desai on his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir felt that governments have to consult the people of their constituency carefully and ensure they were representing the genuine opinions of the majority while at the same time not forgetting the rights of minorities.
Delivering his first Mufti Mohammed Sayeed memorial lecture on ‘Devolving power; the British experience’ on the second death anniversary of the former chief minister here on Monday, Lord Desai, who represents Labour Party, shared his experiences and problems of devolving powers to the regions in UK.
“It’s a unique story. Ours was one of the most centralised constitutions. There was one single parliament and no regional parliament. Everything was done through London and White Hall ,” he recalled.
There was very little scope for regional variations in the country, which has four units England — the most dominant part —, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, he added.
Lord Des a ire called how there had been a movement for more power and more autonomy.
“It was a democratic movement. The empire was gone and Britain had lot of problems like unemployment, inflation and slow growth. At the same time people thought that if they had autonomy they can perform better and look after their population in a better way ,” he said
He, however, said that after upheavals Ireland gained independence but Northern Ireland remained part of the UK.
“We now have a government, which by agreement has peace in Northern Ireland,” he said.
Concluding his lecture he said, “You have to consult the people carefully. Make quite sure that you are representing the genuine opinion of majority while at the same time not forgetting the rights of minorities. It’s a very tricky situation.”
NITISH ENDORSES MUFTI’ S DOCTRINE OF HEALING TOUCH
Taking a trip down memory lane, a nostalgic Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday strongly endorsed former chief minister of Jam mu and Kashmir Mufti Mo ham med S aye ed’ s doctrine of‘ healing touch ’.
Addressing the gathering after being conferred with ‘probity in politics and public life’ award by the governor NN Vohra, he expressed his gratitude for the honour.
Here called his long association with the former chief minister. The PDP founder died on January 7,2016.
“During the VP Singh government, he was the first Muslim home minister and I was a minister of state. Mufti Sahib also played a key role in Janata Dal and I still remember that I participated in the political affairs committee meets at his home and had food there, which I haven’t forgotten,” he said.
Nitish Kumar recalled that when Mufti Mohammed Sayeed became chief minister of the state, the circumstances were tough. “In 2002, he formed the government and improved the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Peace prevailed and tourists flocked to the state,” he said.
You have to consult people carefully. Make sure that you are representing genuine opinion of majority while not forgetting rights of minorities. It’s very tricky. situation.
LORD MEGHNAD DESAI, economist