Page 2 - Indian Democracy

The Conscience Network: Fighting the emergency and the US battlefront

The element of equivalence between then and now is probed delicately but bravely by this book which revisits the Emergency and the resistance to it from a new angle

Today's political atmosphere not favourable for Indian democracy: Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday expressed concern over the current political scenario in the country, saying today's political atmosphere is not favourable for Indian democracy and social health. Speaking at 'Sneh Milan Samaroh' organised by the Rajasthan Pragatisheel Manch at the Constitution Club in Jaipur, Dhankhar said the intensity and tone of political exchanges today were detrimental to the democratic and social fabric of the nation. The vice president said he does not come under pressure and does not pressure anyone. "The environment and temperature of politics today are neither suitable for our democracy nor in tune with our ancient civilisational values. Political rivals are not enemies. Enemies may exist across borders but there should be none within the country," the vice president said. He called for greater decorum in legislative conduct, cautioning that public disenchantment with the conduct of lawmakers inside legislatures could erode faith in democratic .

VP Dhankhar calls Emergency-era Preamble changes a 'festering wound'

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday asserted the preamble of a constitution is "not changeable" but was changed in India during the Emergency which signals a betrayal of the "wisdom" of the framers of the Constitution. He also said the words inserted in the Preamble in 1976 during the period of Emergency, were a "nasoor" (festering wound) and could cause upheaval. "It is nothing but belittling the civilisational wealth and knowledge of this country for thousands of years. It is a sacrilege of the spirit of Sanatan," the vice president said at a book launch event here. Dhankhar described preamble as a "seed" on which a constitution grows. He also underlined that the preamble of no other constitution has undergone change except that of India. "The Preamble of a constitution is not changeable. But this Preamble was changed by the 42nd Constitution (Amendment) Act of 1976," he said noting that the words "socialist", "secular", and "integrity" were added. He said it was a trave

SC flags rising bail rejections, says democracy must not be police state

The Supreme Court has expressed dismay over rejection of bail pleas by trial courts in "not very serious cases" despite the completion of investigations. A bench comprising justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan on Monday said a democratic country must not function like a police state, where law enforcement agencies exercise arbitrary powers to detain individuals without genuine necessity. It observed that two decades ago, bail pleas in smaller cases rarely reached the high courts, let alone the top court. "It is shocking that the Supreme Court is adjudicating bail pleas in cases that should be disposed of at the trial court level. The system is being burdened unnecessarily," Justice Oka said while hearing a bail plea. This is not the first time the top court has flagged this issue. It has repeatedly urged trial courts and high courts to adopt a more liberal stance in granting bail, particularly in cases involving minor infractions. The apex court had previously expressed its angui

From childhood to govt, key takeaways from PM Modi's chat with Lex Fridman

In a podcast with AI researcher Lex Fridman released on Sunday, PM Modi spoke on a wide array of topics, including his experiences in the Himalayas, democracy in India, and the 2002 Gujarat riots

'Deeply concerning': MEA reacts to Trump's claim on $21 mn USAID funding

Relevant departments and agencies are looking into this matter, said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Donald Trump's remarks regarding the '$21 million allocation to India for voter turnout'

VP Jagdeep Dhankhar urges exposure of those behind attack on democracy

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday voiced concern over the alleged USAID funding for raising voter turnout in India, saying people who allowed such an attack on the country's democratic values should be exposed. He also said that it was the "national duty" of people to strike at such forces. Addressing an event in Miami on Thursday, US President Donald Trump once again questioned the USAID funding of USD 21 million for voter turnout in India, and said "I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected". Speaking at an event on meditation here, Dhankhar said the remarks on USAID funding came from a person of authority and that it was a fact that money was given. Calling for the use of "Chanakya niti" to get into the root of the controversy, he said the problem should be eradicated from its roots. "People who allowed such kind of an attack (to allegedly damage the electoral purity) should be exposed," he said. He also said delivering a body blow to such forces is the ...

Practise what you preach: Jaishankar to West over global democracy

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took a dig at the Western countries for treating democracy as a "Western characteristic", accusing them of not practising abroad what they valued at home. Jaishankar made these remarks on Friday at a panel discussion titled "Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience" at the Munich Security Conference. He also said that "if you do want democracy eventually to prevail, it's important the West also embraces successful models (democracy) outside the West." There was a time I have to say this in all honesty when the West treated democracy as a Western characteristic and was busy encouraging non-democratic forces in the Global South. It still does. Everything you value at home, you don't practice abroad. "So, I do think the rest of the Global South will view the successes, shortcomings and the responses of other countries," he said. He also said India, for "all the challenges that we have had, even at a low income, we have stayed

'Democracy puts food on the table': Jaishankar claps back at US Senator

EAM S Jaishankar also slammed the West for backing non-democratic forces abroad while championing democracy at home

Ex-CJI Chandrachud defends SC ruling on Article 370, PM Modi's puja visit

In an interview, Justice (Retd) DY Chandrachud addressed criticism of the court's decision to uphold the Centre's move to abrogate Jammu and Kashmir's special status

As India nears 1 bn electors, it seeks solutions to freebies, black money

Estimates of election related expenditure of political parties and candidates, and EC's seizures, reveal barely the tip of the total election spends of candidates and political parties

Lathi charge on peaceful student protesters attack on democracy: Kejriwal

In a post on the social media platform X, Kejriwal highlighted the incident as an attack on democracy and criticised the government's response to student voices

Manmohan Singh: The technocrat who reshaped India's economic destiny

Manmohan Singh showed that technocrats can change nations' destinies as effectively as any populist

28% of Lok Sabha seats had no woman candidate in 2024, shows ECI report

The highlight of the 2024 LS election was again the better turnout of woman electors in percentage terms than men

Opposition's impeachment bid against Dhankhar: Symbolism or strategy?

Injured egos may rile them, but they cannot justify the Opposition's move to impeach Jagdeep Dhankhar

Democracy should be India's religion, Constitution its holy book: Cong MP

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain on Tuesday said India is a multi-religious society but the country's religion should only be democracy and holy book, the Constitution. He also said the subject of minority rights is germane to every country that calls itself a civilised nation, but going by the prevailing atmosphere in the country, India is soon turning into a "minority hating nation". He was participating in the discussion on the "Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India" in the Rajya Sabha. "This government has gone to the extent of making communal division into a state policy, thereby betraying the vision of the Constitution's framers and the inclusive nation that they aspired to build," the Congress MP said. Alleging that a dangerous politics of polarisation is on in the country, he claimed that an atmosphere of fear and hate is being created and "minorities today feel their state is like that of Jews during the Nazi rule in Germany". He further said Article 25

Cong does not believe in democracy, trying to bring in 'anarchy': Nadda

BJP president JP Nadda on Thursday accused the Congress of trying to bring in "anarchy", as he condemned the charges levelled against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar by opposition leaders. Speaking to reporters in Parliament complex, Nadda, who is also the leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, accused the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and the Congress of not cooperating in functioning of the House. Condemning the press conference held by opposition leaders on Thursday where they accused the Chairman of being "partisan", Nadda said, "Kharge ji is a senior leader, he should know the ruling of the Chairman is final and unquestionable. Levelling such allegations outside the House is condemnable. We condemn it, and it is unfortunate". "Kharge ji has been given enough opportunities to speak in the House, it is on-record that he refused... He was also invited to come to the Chairman's chamber, but he refused to go," Nadda said. "It is clear the Congress does not want to

Constitution Day 2024: Epic story behind the drafting of India's charter

Debates over 167 days, 274 members, 36 lakh words -- that's what it took before the Constituent Assembly adopted the world's longest written constitution on this day in 1949. Every Article in the Constitution, which ran into 1.45 lakh words at the time, was debated by members of the Constituent Assembly. They sat for 11 sessions and 167 days over a period of two years, 11 months and 18 days to frame the Constitution. BR Ambedkar, regarded as the chief architect of the Constitution, was assisted by members of the drafting committee he chaired. India's first president Rajendra Prasad was the first person to sign the document 75 years ago. It is the largest written constitution in the world and the first edition was neither printed nor typed -- it was handwritten and calligraphed in both Hindi and English. According to facts available on the Lok Sabha website and analysis of Constituent Assembly debates by the think-tank PRS India, the Constitution's first copy was handwritten by Pre

Fight to save democracy will continue: Kejriwal on AAP foundation day

The AAP has emerged stronger due to its "honesty and love of the people", party supremo Arvind Kejriwal said on the foundation day of the party on Tuesday, asserting the fight to save the Constitution and democracy will continue. In a post on X, the former chief minister said the common man found its strength with the founding the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) 12 years ago. He said the journey so far was filled with the stories of struggle, sacrifice and victory. "In last one year lakhs of attempts were made to finish us but our honesty, love of the people and morale of the workers made us stronger. We stand stronger than before against injustice and dictatorship", Kejriwal said in a post in Hindi. The fight of the AAP to save the Constitution and democracy will go on, he said. He called upon the party leaders and workers to resolve to work for betterment of the country. Senior party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi also greeted party workers on the foundation day of the AAP. In a

Robust, transparent audit system helps strengthen democracy, says Om Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday said a robust and transparent audit system helps strengthen democracy and takes the country on the path of all-round development. Addressing an 'Audit Diwas' event of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) here, he asserted that a strong and transparent audit brings fiscal discipline and monetary prudence which ensures that funds passed by Parliament for various schemes are utilised appropriately. Birla also underlined that to ensure fiscal discipline and transparency in Indian democracy, a senior member of the principal opposition party is conventionally appointed as head of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC). "This is the strength of Indian democracy," he asserted, noting that the audit report of CAG on public money spent is scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) where members from both sides share their views on paragraphs of audit reports. Addressing the gathering, Birla said enhanced transparency in the audit ushe