Union Culture and Tourism Minister targets opposition parties
The Sunday Mail
Jodhpur. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat once again targeted the opposition. Shekhawat said that unfortunately, in the past few years, the opposition has been attempting to turn Parliament into a political arena instead of a platform for discussion. Tearing papers, raising slogans, and disrupting House proceedings are unfortunate for any democratic system.
Shekhawat, who arrived in his home district on Sunday morning, spoke to the media at the airport. He said, “As far as protests on certain issues are concerned, I feel that protests have become a habit in the country. Some people are protesting just for the sake of protesting, without understanding the issue or understanding the purpose behind it. Reform measures, especially those designed to protect democracy and ensure transparency in the electoral process, are being opposed.”
Shekhawat stated that the Election Commission’s constitutional obligations are aimed at ensuring fair, transparent, and credible elections. It is the Election Commission’s constitutional right and duty to take the necessary decisions to achieve this. Unfortunately, some people are opposing this, even though they themselves are unclear as to why. In some places, there may be elements who have been deriving political benefits from illegal or improper inclusion of names in the voter list, and these same individuals are now opposing these reforms.
The Union Minister noted that it is also ironic that those who were demanding these reforms some time ago are now opposing them in a confused state of mind. This, in a way, represents a crisis of a confused mindset. The government and constitutional institutions are performing their duties with full commitment and responsibility and will continue to do so. He stated that the public sends its representatives to Parliament for service and discussion.
Shekhawat stated that Parliament is a place where discussions, deliberations, and reviews of government policies and decisions should take place. It should be seen how the plans are implemented on the ground and how they can be improved. While this is their right, the people of the country are watching. The public also understands who wants to pursue the politics of dialogue and solutions, and who only pursues the politics of obstruction and confusion. When the time comes, the public also makes decisions based on their conscience.
Impressed by the cultural festival “Serendipity” in Goa
Responding to a question about the Serendipity Arts Foundation’s cultural festival “Serendipity” in Goa, Shekhawat said that he had the opportunity to participate in the art and culture-based event. The art and cultural expressions there deeply impressed him. This ten-day event is truly a wonderful cultural experience. He said, “I believe it is the largest multifaceted cultural festival in the country, giving equal importance to both visual and performing arts. Such events not only provide a powerful platform for budding artists but also boost tourism in the city and expand the potential of a culture-based creative economy.” Shekhawat said that such cultural festivals demonstrate that art and culture are not only a medium of expression, but also a powerful vehicle for economic development, tourism, and global dialogue. For a culturally rich country like India, such events play a vital role in strengthening our soft power.
