Page 8 - Democracy

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

Illusory statement of highest improbity: Rijiju on Sonia's democracy remark

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday dubbed as an "illusory statement of the highest improbity" the remarks of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on democracy and independence of institutions. Rijiju's jibe came after the former Congress president accused the Narendra Modi government of "misusing every power". Gandhi said her party will take its message directly to people and join hands with all like-minded parties to defend the Constitution. In an Op-Ed in "The Hindu", Gandhi also accused Prime Minister Modi and his government of "systematically dismantling" the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, saying their actions demonstrate a "deep-rooted disdain" for democracy. Rijiju took to Twitter to hit back at Gandhi. "Smt Sonia Gandhi is lecturing about Democracy? Congress Party talking about independence of Judiciary is : An illusory statement of the highest improbity," he said.

World 'turning the tide' toward democracy, says US President Biden

Efforts to strengthen democracies around the globe are working and the world is turning the tide towards greater freedom, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday as he sought to assure that democratic institutions work. Addressing his second global summit on democracy, Biden also announced that the US intends to commit USD 9.5 billion to advance democracy around the world. At the time of the first summit in December of 2021, the sentiment in too many places around the world was that democracy's best days were behind. Democracy had declined by some measures for 15 consecutive years. But this year, we can say there's a different story to tell, Biden said. Thanks to the commitment, thanks to the commitment of leaders of global -- gathered today and the persistence of people in every region of the world demanding their rights be respected and their voices being heard, we're seeing real indications, real indications that we're turning the tide here, he said. Biden led a virtual summit

UN calls for democracy in Myanmar after army dissolves Aung San's party

After the dissolution of Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the United Nations has called for a return to democracy in the country

Will fight for democracy even if disqualified permanently: Rahul Gandhi

A combative Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that even if he is disqualified from Parliament for life or jailed, he would keep defending the democratic nature of the country, and claimed that a "panic-stricken" government has handed the Opposition a "weapon" with the move to disqualify him. At his first press conference after being disqualified from the Lok Sabha, Gandhi claimed that he has been disqualified because Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "scared" of his next speech on the Adani issue and alleged that the "whole game" was to distract people from the panic that the government was feeling over the matter. Gandhi said the moot question remains who invested Rs 20,000 crore in Adani shell firms and that he will keep raising it. "I am here defending the democratic voice of the Indian people, I will continue to do that. I am not scared of these threats, of these disqualifications, allegations, prison sentences. I am not scared of them. These people don't understand me yet, I am not

Democracy not in peril, Congress has been brought to perish: Smriti Irani

Union minister Smiriti Irani on Wednesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks in the UK, saying India's democracy is not in peril but his party has been brought to political perish by the people for the kind of behaviour that he exhibited overseas. Gandhi's grudge with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the shape of a grudge with india, she charged. During his interactions in the UK recently, Gandhi alleged that the structures of Indian democracy are under attack and there is a "full-scale assault" on the country's institutions. His remarks triggered a political row, with the BJP accusing him of maligning India on foreign soil and seeking foreign interventions and the Congress hitting back at the ruling party by citing instances of Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising internal politics abroad. Hitting out at Gandhi over his remarks, Irani asked, When Gandhi family directs Congress men and women to tear papers and throw it at the Speaker's chair in Lok .

Democratic capitalism in peril?

Markets and democracy are not necessarily compatible, and the inherent tensions are becoming more apparent than ever

No method in the madness

A new critique of the V-Dem democracy rankings highlights where the problem lies

Democracy in India facing trouble: Sanjay Raut after I-T survey at BBC

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said democracy in India is facing trouble, comments coming in the backdrop of the Income Tax department survey at the BBC's offices in the country. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in its earlier avatar as the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), had opposed the Emergency (1975-77), but the same outfit is now targeting the judiciary and the media. The Income Tax department on Tuesday conducted survey operations for over ten hours at the BBC's offices in Delhi, Mumbai and two other linked locations as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion, officials said in the national capital. When questions are asked to the government or Prime Minister, such raids take place (referring to I-T survey at BBC offices) or arrests are made. Democracy in this country is in trouble. "During the Emergency, when censorship was forced on newspapers, the BJP (in its previous avatar BJS) had agitated against it. Now, when their government is

Democracy was 'cremated' in Lok Sabha: Cong on expunging of Rahul's remarks

The Congress on Wednesday strongly criticised the expunging of certain remarks by Rahul Gandhi in Parliament targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and alleged that "democracy was cremated" in Lok Sabha. Gandhi had made these remarks while participating in a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "With the expunging of Rahul Gandhi's remarks on PM linked Adani Maha Mega Scam, deMOcracy was cremated in the Lok Sabha. OM Shanti." In his remarks in Lok Sabha, Gandhi had alleged that the meteoric rise in Gautam Adani's fortunes happened after the BJP came to power in 2014 and he rose from the 609th to the second spot in the global rich list. The Congress leader's remarks had drawn a sharp response from Treasury benches, with Law Minister Kiren Rijiju asking him not to level "wild allegations" and to furnish proof of his claims. Outside Parliament, BJP leader Ravi Shanka

More competitive Congress must for revival of healthy democracy: Guha

Historian Ramachandra Guha on Tuesday said that to "revive" healthy democracy in India in which one party does not steamroll the Opposition, a lot depends on the Congress becoming more competitive, which won't happen merely through a march but by winning votes. Guha was speaking at the launch of the third edition of his seminal work, "India After Gandhi", here. "Objectively, it is only the Congress that has a footprint, shall we say, in eight to 12 states. So to have healthy democracy in which one party does not steamroll the Opposition, the kind that India experienced from the late 1970s till 2014, to revive that, to restore it, which I believe would be very good for all of us, it would depend a lot on the Congress becoming more competitive," he claimed. To buttress his point, Guha spoke about how among all other parties it was the Congress that fought the BJP head-to-head in as many as 191 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He claimed the same would happen in the 2024 general

Structural strength

The basic structure of the Constitution has authority

Delhi L-G making mockery of democracy by refusing to meet CM, MLAs: AAP

The Delhi-ruling AAP said on Saturday that Lt Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena is making mockery of democracy by refusing to meet Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the elected MLAs

Protests against Boluarte's govt spread in Peru, clashes in Cusco

Protests against Peruvian President Dina Boluarte's government that have left 47 people dead since they began a month ago spread through the south of the Andean country on Wednesday with new clashes reported in the tourist city of Cusco. Health officials in Cusco said 16 civilians and six police officers were injured after protesters tried to take over the city's airport, where many foreign tourists arrive to see sites including the nearby Incan citadel of Machu Picchu. Protests and road blockades against Boluarte and in support of ousted President Pedro Castillo were also seen in 41 provinces, mainly in Peru's south. The unrest began in early December following the destitution and arrest of Castillo, Peru's first president of humble, rural roots, following his widely condemned attempt to dissolve Congress and head off his own impeachment. The protest, mainly in neglected rural areas of the country still loyal to Castillo, are seeking immediate elections, Boluarte's resignation, ..

Brazilian authorities order arrest of top officials over capital riots

Lula's inauguration on January 1 was "an extremely successful security operation" but on January 2 "Anderson Torres took over as Secretary of Security, dismissed the entire command and travelled

India's tryst with parliamentary democracy

At a time when Parliament is about to be relocated to a new building, 'House of the People' offers an insightful look into the evolution of representative bodies in India and their functioning today

Democratic traditions must be respected: PM Modi on Brazil protests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed deep concerns over reports of rioting in Brazil by supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro and asserted democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. The supporters of far-right leader Bolsonaro who refuse to accept his election defeat stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and presidential palace in the Brazilian capital on Sunday, a week after the inauguration of his leftist rival, President Luiz In cio Lula da Silva. Modi tweeted, "Deeply concerned about the news of rioting and vandalism against the State institutions in Brasilia. Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. We extend our full support to the Brazilian authorities.