Page 7 - Democracy

'Victory for Niger's coup leaders would be 'end of democracy in Africa'

If mutinous soldiers who ousted Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum succeed, it will threaten democracy and security across the region and the continent, a high-ranking member of Bazoum's political party warned in an interview with The Associated Press. Boubacar Sabo, deputy secretary general for the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, said Bazoum had been kidnapped by members of the presidential guard who overthrew him on July 26 and have since kept him under house arrest. What is happening in Niger, if it succeeds, is the end of democracy in Africa. It's over. ... If we fight today, it is to prevent these kind of things from happening and to ensure a future for our continent, Sabo said on Thursday. In a region rife with coups, Niger was seen as one of the last democratic countries that Western nations could partner with to beat back a growing jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. The overthrow of the president nearly one month ago has been a big b

PM Modi wants to destroy democracy, become maharaja: Tejashwi Yadav

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was out to destroy democracy in the country and position himself as a 'maharaja' (king). Yadav, who holds health portfolio in the Nitish Kumar government, also accused Modi of 'safed jhooth' (blatant lie) in his address earlier in the day when he spoke of AIIMS in the north Bihar district of Darbhanga. "It is an outright lie on part of the PM to have made a mention of AIIMS at Darbhanga, which is yet to be constructed. He reminds me of Union Home Minister Amit Shah who some time ago boasted of Purnea airport, which is far from functional, as one of the achievements of the government," Yadav told PTI video. "The fact is, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had taken initiative for AIIMS, Darbhanga and a piece of land, suitably located just a few kilometres from a national highway, was also allocated. But the Centre threw a spanner by claiming the location of the land was not convenient," said ...

Opposition meeting to protect democracy, Constitution, secularism: Kharge

The Congress is not interested in power or the post of prime minister, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday as leaders of 26 Opposition parties got together here to discuss strategy ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In his inaugural address on the second day of the key Opposition meeting, he said, "Our intention in this meeting is not to gain power for ourselves. It is to protect our Constitution, democracy, secularism and social justice". He admitted to differences among opposition parties at the state level but noted that these are not ideological. "These differences are not so big that we cannot put them behind us for the sake of the common man and middle class which is suffering due to inflation, for the sake of our youth who are suffering from unemployment, for the sake of the poor, Dalits, adivasis and the minorities whose rights are being crushed silently behind the scenes," the Congress chief said. He said 26 parties are here together, and in government in 1

Widely participated elections strength of Indian democracy: Droupadi Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said that democratic system in India is continuously getting stronger and the biggest proof of it is the general elections widely participated in by the masses. Addressing a seminar here, Murmu said that during the 75 years since independence, India has kept its democratic values intact despite facing a host of challenges. "Our country has been moving forward in its developmental journey with democratic methods while incorporating the world's largest diversity," Murmu said while addressing the seminar on the 'Role of key constitutional functionaries of Rajasthan Legislature in Strengthening Democracy' here. She said that in the 17th Lok Sabha elections in 2019, a record 61.3 crore voters used their franchise. She said that for the first time, the number of women parliamentarians has crossed the 100 mark and expressed confidence that this number would increase further. "The Panchayati Raj system is playing a fundamental role in our democracy. Today

US diplomat in charge of democracy to visit India, Bangladesh from Jul 8-14

A senior US diplomat in charge of democracy and human rights will visit India and Bangladesh from July 8 to 14 to engage with civil society organisations on freedom of expression and association, and inclusion of women and girls and vulnerable groups, the State Department has said. In India, she will also meet with senior government officials to discuss the deepening US-India partnership, the State Department said in a release on Friday. Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights and US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Uzra Zeya will travel to India and Bangladesh from July 8 to 14 to engage with civil society organisations on freedom of expression and association, and inclusion of women and girls, persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups, including marginalised religious and ethnic minorities, it said. "In India, she will meet with senior government officials to discuss the deepening and enduring US-India partnership, including advancing shared .

Death knell of democracy should not ring in hands of custodian: WB governor

In the backdrop of incidents of violence ahead of the Panchayat polls in West Bengal, Governor C V Ananda Bose on Thursday sent out a strong message to the state administration, saying the death knell of democracy should not ring in the hands of its custodian. Bose, who held a meeting with representatives of several parties, at the Siliguri circuit house here, described the current situation in the poll-bound state as "very very disturbing". "The death knell of democracy must not ring in the hands of its custodian. We must take care of that," Bose said at the circuit house here. The governor said he would continue visiting the areas witnessing violence to have first-hand knowledge of what is happening. "What is happening in the field is very very disturbing. That is what the court has reflected in its various pronouncements and observations. We will certainly see that the present trend is reversed and there is peace and harmony in society. "Every citizen will be able to cast his v

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Democracy is in our veins, no discrimination against minorities: PM Modi

Asserting that democracy is "in our spirit...and flows in our veins", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there is no question of discrimination in India on the grounds of caste or religion because his government follows the Constitution, which is formed on the basic values of democracy. Responding to a question at a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden after their comprehensive deliberations, Modi also strongly defended India's record on democracy and his government's performance and human rights, saying that the basic foundation stone of his government has been 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas' which means together for everyone's growth, with everyone's trust. "India is a democracy. And as President Biden said democracy is in the DNA of both India and America. Democracy is in our spirit. Democracy flows in our veins. We live democracy. Our forefathers moulded it in words, which we call the Constitution. Our government runs on the ...

Govt should set up department of peace if it believes in democracy: Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said the BJP-led Centre should set up a department of peace and non-violence just like his government has done if it truly believes in democracy and the Constitution. Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of winning elections in the name of religion, Gehlot said ensuring poll victories in this manner is easy and not an act of bravery. He reiterated that the situation in the country is alarming and that democracy is under threat. Speaking at the "Rajasthan Gandhi Darshan Sammelan" programme here, Gehlot alleged that the BJP had put forward Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and yoga guru Ramdev in a movement against the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre on issues such as Lokpal and added that there is no talk about issues such as Lokpal, 2G spectrum or the coal scam today. "Today, the question is what is the state of democracy in this country? It is not known in which direction the countr

BJP govt insulting India's democracy on world stage: SP on Dorsey's claims

Jack Dorsey in the interview said that there were requests around farmers' protests to shut Twitter in the country

Democracy not about buildings but functions with people's voice: Kharge

After his party boycotted the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said democracy is not just about buildings but functions with the voice of people. He also attacked the government over the "forcible" removal and "manhandling" of wrestlers protesting at the Jantar Mantar when they were trying to march towards Parliament. "The right to inaugurate the new Parliament was snatched from the President. Women players were beaten up on the streets with dictatorial force," he alleged in a tweet in Hindi. "The three lies of BJP-RSS rulers now stand exposed before the country - Democracy, Nationalism and Save Daughter. "Remember Modi ji, democracy is not just about buildings but functions with the voice of the public," Kharge said. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia were detained along with other protesters after a scuffle broke out between protestors and Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar.

Puncturing the world map

This narrative, how­ever, overlooks the forces that were at play already when these nations emer­ged and that would 50 years later end up draw­ing hard limits on what states could do

Elections in India, Turkey and Thailand show democracy is not dead

Nevertheless, the last week has been full of reminders that, even in an age when democracy seemed to be in retreat, voters retain the power to prevent their countries from collapsing into autocracy

Thailand's pro-democracy groups dominate vote after decade of military rule

Emerging as the biggest winner of the night, Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat was greeted Sunday evening by supporters shouting "Prime minister! prime minister! prime minister!"

Democracy vs Pakistan

The Imran Khan episode highlights the counterintuitive and unfortunate idea of perils of democracy in a country as large as Pakistan

India's growth path lies in liberal democracy to earn world's trust: Rajan

India's growth path lies in leveraging its intrinsic strengths and becoming crucial to global supply chains by building on its historic culture of tolerance and respect for all, former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan said here on Friday. He stressed that India has the potential to take a leadership role in the services industry and strengthening the country's liberal democratic values was an economic necessity to earn the world's trust in this endeavour. With reference to competing with a cheap manufacturing neighbour like China, the leading economist said India would benefit from focussing on the service component of manufacturing or services more directly as a trusted global supplier. Our independent judiciary, our liberal democracy, these are critical advantages if we are to go down this manufacturing service-led growth path because this will enable us to earn the world's trust; it's intrinsically necessary, said Rajan in his keynote address at the 'Ideas for India

US reacts to Imran Khan's arrest, calls for democracy, rule of law in Pak

The United States reacted to the chaos in Pakistan after former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday and called for respect of democratic principles and the rule of law

India's democracy 'most functional' on any global parameters: V-P Dhankhar

Jagdeep Dhankhar said that there is the evolution of an ecosystem that enables every youth to fully unleash his or her energy and potential

How the world backed two generals, and put Sudan on the path to war

Sudan has known just 17 years of peace in its nearly 70 years of independence

Can't lose democracy by allowing those in power to overrule opponents: SC

The country cannot afford to lose democracy by allowing parties in power to overrule the wisdom of their political opponents with the use of State machinery, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday as it reflected on the tussle between the successive DMK and AIADMK governments in Tamil Nadu over an employment scheme. The top court's remark came while setting aside an order of the Madras High Court which directed the Tamil Nadu government to create the posts under the designation Village Level Workers known as Makkal Nala Paniyalargal (MNP) and accommodate the persons who were on the rolls of MNP on the date of issuance of a government order dated November 8, 2011 against vacant posts. The Tamil Nadu government had introduced a scheme dated September 2, 1989 through the Rural Development Department providing employment to the educated youth in rural areas who had completed 10th standard for various items of work in the village panchayat. The DMK government led by M Karunanidhi launched the