As the country heads to the Lok Sabha elections, a group of former civil servants has come out with a book In Defence of the Republic documenting the attempts to safeguard the constitutional values of the country.
The Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG)—a collective of the retired civil servants floated in 2017—has been writing letters to create pressure on the governments at the Centre and states, and other institutions, reminding them of their constitutional duties for protecting the rights of the minorities, upholding the freedom of speech, and ensuring a level-playing field.
The book published by Speaking Tiger documents the 74 letters written by the CCG. It also has essays by Justice (retired) Madan Lokur and former DGP of Punjab Julio Ribeiro among others.
Former bureaucrat Deb Mukharji termed the book as chronicles of dissent which will “serve as a ready reference material for researchers and scholars”. The book was released on the eve of the birth anniversary of Constitution framer Dr B.R. Ambedkar.
“For the clarity and integrity with which it speaks truth to power, demanding an unequivocal commitment to the Constitution, In Defence of the Republic is a necessary and empowering read for the Indian citizen. It is as much a manifesto of informed dissent as it is a handbook of reference on some of the most significant issues in our national life today,” the publisher’s note says.
During the panel discussion, which included senior journalists Siddharth Varadarajan, Saba Naqvi, Harish Khare, academician Nivedita Menon and policy expert Yamini Aiyar, the experts said the letters, which have become voices of conscience, act as a force multiplier and a guide for the serving bureaucrats.
The letters also had an impact as whenever the CCG wrote on key issues, a counter group of former bureaucrats—those close to the government—came out with statements in support of the ruling dispensation.
In its latest open letter written to the Election Commission on April 11, the CCG had questioned if a level-playing field was available for the opposition parties as their leaders were either arrested or called for questioning when the election process was on.
