‘There can be no free market without freedom’

Academicians, intellectuals and civil society leaders joined Congress leaders to condemn the “attacks against pluralism” at a seminar held here on Friday to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Inaugurating the seminar, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said unimpeded flow and exchange of ideas is essential to build economic prosperity.

“Freedom is a foundational value that lies at the heart of the Nehruvian idea of India. It is widely known that freedom feeds the soul and the heart. What is less appreciated is that freedom is also essential for sustained economic development,” he said, apparently echoing the concerns raised by historians, academics, film-makers and various other intellectuals.

Liberal polity He said the prerequisite for innovation, entrepreneurship and competition is an open society and a liberal polity where individuals are free to pursue their ideas.

“Suppression of dissent or free speech poses a grave danger for economic development. There can be no free market without freedom,” he said in an apparent message to his successor Narendra Modi. “Capital is likely to be frightened away by conflict. Unity and respect for diversity, secularism and pluralism are vital for the survival of the republic.”

Singh said the nation is deeply concerned about the recent instances of blatant violations of the right to freedom of thought, belief, speech and expression in our country by some violent extremist groups.

“The assault or murder of thinkers for no more than disagreement with their views, or because of the food they eat, or their caste, cannot be justified on any grounds. Nor can the suppression of the right to dissent be allowed.

“All right thinking people in the country have condemned such incidents in the strongest terms as an assault on the nation,” the two-term Prime Minister said.

He added that Nehru’s concern was also with advancing the cause of equality and equity in our country by uplifting the oppressed masses — and wiping every tear from every eye.

He said it is clear that Nehru is re-emerging as the centre of gravity of Indian political thought, especially in the post-global financial crisis era that has once again restored the need for an effective role for the State in advancing the common good.

Ideological ancestors Historian Irfan Habib, who also addressed the seminar, said people whose ideological ancestors had no role in the national movement are trying to negate the role and contribution of Nehru.

“Today the national movement is not only forgotten, but violently misrepresented... particularly the legacy of Nehru...by those people whose ideological ancestors go back to persons... having no role in national movement,” he said.

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