Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar has urged citizens to take five pledges — to protect democracy, safeguard the Constitution, preserve the election system, fight against tax inequality, and remove authoritarianism from governance.
Speaking at the 79th Independence Day celebrations at the KPCC office, Shivakumar said, “Independence is not a commodity to be bought, it is the breath of life, as Mahatma Gandhi said. Our leaders sacrificed their lives to win freedom, and it is now our duty to protect democracy, uphold the Constitution and the country’s electoral system, ensure fair taxation, and restore a people-centric government.”
He stressed that these five pledges should be remembered daily, warning that the country may soon need to embark on a “second freedom struggle” by 2029. Highlighting Karnataka’s contribution to the independence movement, he recalled Isuru village in Shivamogga as the first to declare independence and Kittur Rani Chennamma as the first woman to defeat the British. He also cited the 1930 Ankola Salt Satyagraha led by Congress leader Hanumanth Rao.
Shivakumar reminded that over 6.5 lakh Congress members sacrificed their lives during the freedom struggle and thousands gave up their homes and livelihoods. He criticised attempts to rewrite history by denying the roles of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Bhagat Singh, and said Congress must educate the younger generation about its historical role in winning independence, adopting the tricolour, and securing the national anthem.
Condemning “anti-constitutional forces” and vote theft, he said, “Those undermining the Constitution are enemies of freedom. Our leaders, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, have initiated this fight from Karnataka, and we must all work together to stop such threats.”
He urged party members to prepare for upcoming municipal and local body elections, with the state government planning polls in the next six months. “We must work to bring Congress back to power in 2028 and transform the lives of people,” he said.
Speaking to the media, Shivakumar expressed optimism about political change in India, noting that non-BJP parties are uniting nationwide. “We have made our pledge, and we are confident that major change is coming,” he added.
