Page 8 - Indian Democracy

Structures of our democracy under 'brutal attack', alleges Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that the structures of Indian democracy are under "brutal attack" and there are conversations ongoing within the Opposition to unite around an alternative vision for the country. The former Congress president also alleged that the recent tax survey action against the BBC was an example of the "suppression of voice across the country", which is why he undertook the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' as an expression of voice against the ruling BJP's attempt to silence the country. "The reason the yatra became necessary is because the structures of our democracy are under brutal attack," Gandhi told reporters at an India Insights event organised by the Indian Journalists' Association (IJA) here. "The media, the institutional frameworks, judiciary, Parliament is all under attack and we were finding it very difficult to put the voice of the people through the normal channels, he said. "The BBC has found out about it now, but it has been going on in Ind

Indian democracy under attack, politicians under surveillance: Rahul Gandhi

Indian democracy is under threat, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said during a lecture at Cambridge University, claiming that several politicians, including himself, are under surveillance. Gandhi made the comments during his lecture on "Learning to Listen in the 21st Century", which was shared on Twitter by Congress leader Sam Pitroda, ex-adviser to former prime minister Manmohan Singh. Raking up the Pegasus snooping issue, Gandhi alleged that the Israeli spyware was installed on the phones of a large number of politicians, including him. "Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack. The institutional framework which is required for a democracy... Parliament, free press, the judiciary, just the idea of mobilisation--these are all getting constrained. We are facing an attack on the basic structure of democracy," he said. Gandhi noted that in the Constitution, India is described as a Union of States and that Union requires negotiation and conversation. "It is that ...

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

Delhi LG, CM ask people to work to strengthen democracy on Republic Day

Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal greeted people on the occasion of Republic Day on Thursday, and asked them to strengthen democracy and the Constitution of the country. The chief minister also unfurled the national flag at his official residence in Civil Lines. Extending his good wishes to the people on the occasion, the LG paid tribute to freedom fighters and martyrs. He called upon people to safeguard, nourish and strengthen the ideals, values and provisions contained in the Constitution. "Let us again dedicate ourselves to safeguard, nourish and strengthen the ideals, values and provisions contained in our Constitution and move forward shoulder-to-shoulder for making a strong, peaceful and powerful India," Saxena said in a tweet. In his Republic Day message, Kejriwal asserted it was responsibility of all to strengthen democracy in the country. The people and the rule by the people are the most important in a republic, Kejriwal said. "Many ...

Young voters are future of Indian democracy, says CEC Rajiv Kumar

He further stated that the ECI is leading the development of Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) like toilets, electricity, drinking water, and ramps at every polling station

Rule of law fundamental to advancement of democracy: SC judge Maheshwari

The rule of law plays a fundamental role in advancing democracy and curbing abuse of power by any branch of government, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari of the Supreme Court said here on Saturday. He was speaking on "Democracy and Judicial Legal System at an event here. Both (democracy and legal system) are extremely significant and complementary to each other. The respect for the rule of law and a well-developed justice system are the underpinnings of a democratic society and of course a modern economy also," he said. Democracy is not only a form of government but a system and process which organizes societal lives of individuals, he added. If considered not solely as the instrument of government, but as a rule to which the entire society , including the government is bound, (then) the rule of law is fundamental in advancing democracy, Justice Maheshwari said. The rule of law resolves conflicts, fosters social interest, advances predictability, equitable treatment and respect for basic

Assumptions that didn't survive 2022

In a year marked by conflict and loss, silver linings were few and far between, with many statements much harder to repeat at the end of 2022 than at the beginning

India is world's largest democracy, home to great diversity of faiths: US

India is the world's largest democracy and home to a great diversity of faiths, the US said on Tuesday

Dec 6 forever a black day for Indian democracy, says AIMIM president Owaisi

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has said that December 6 will forever remain a black day for Indian democracy

We don't need to be told what to do on democracy: India's envoy at UN

India does not need to be told what to do on democracy, the country's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, who assumed Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of December, said here on Thursday. India on Thursday assumed Presidency of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the month of December, during which it will host signature events on countering terrorism and reformed multilateralism. The Presidency will bring the curtains down on India's two-year tenure as elected non-permanent member of the powerful UN organ. Kamboj, India's first woman Permanent Representative to the UN, will sit in the President's seat at the horse-shoe table. On the first day of India's presidency, she addressed reporters in the UN headquarters on the monthly programme of work. Responding to a question on democracy and freedom of press in India, she said "to that I would like to say that, we don't need to be told what to do on democracy. "India is perhaps the most anci

Our Constitution is pride of country's democracy: Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the Constitution is the identity of the rights of citizens and the pride of the country's democracy. Since 2015, November 26 is observed as Constitution Day to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly in 1949. Earlier, the day was observed as Law Day. "Our Constitution is the pride of the country's democracy and it is the identity of the rights of Indians. Heartiest congratulations to all Indians on the occasion of Constitution Day. We will put in all efforts required to make India the number one nation while protecting the country's Constitution and realising Baba Saheb's (Ambedkar) dreams," the chief minister said in a tweet in Hindi.

Chandrababu, Pawan Kalyan decide to work together to 'save democracy'

In a significant political development in Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam Party national President Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party leader and actor Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday decided to work together

India doesn't believe quality of democracy decided by others: Jaishankar

India does not believe that the efficacy or the quality of democracy should be decided by others, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday, observing that each country approaches democracy, human rights, and good governance from their history, tradition, and societal context. We spoke over the last two days of our commitment to practicing and furthering democracy, human rights, and good governance," Jaishankar told reporters during a joint news conference with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Each country approaches the issues from its history, tradition, and societal context, Jaishankar said. Our yardstick for judgment are the integrity of the democratic processes, the respect and credibility that they command with the people, and the nondiscriminatory delivery of public goods and services. India does not believe that the efficacy or, indeed, the quality of democracy should be decided by (others), he said. As the world's two biggest democracies, we're also .

Dislodging Modi regime inevitable to save democracy, says Yechury

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday demanded that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre immediately alter its policies that extended subsidies and tax benefits to big corporates, and also recover the huge loans granted to them. Addressing a public meeting marking the culmination of the 10-day-long 'Desa Rakshana Bheri' that the CPI(M) organised across the country, the party general secretary said the Modi regime had destroyed both the Constitution and the nation's economy in the last eight years of its rule. "If you don't do that (change the policies), we will dethrone you and bring in a new people-friendly government," Yechury warned as he called upon secular, democratic parties to join hands to bring down the Modi regime. "A staggering sum of Rs 11 lakh crore given as loans to mega corporates, who are Modi's friends, have been written off. On top of it, Rs 2 lakh crore was extended as tax benefits to them. This is an atrocious loot

Strong justice system safest guarantee to boost democratic values: Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday said a strong, fair, and independent justice system is the safest guarantee to the flourishing of democratic values. Speaking at the 1st Justice JS Verma Memorial Lecture here in Madhya Pradesh, the vice president said all in the country need to realise that nobody is above the law. Spinally strong, fair and independent justice system is the safest guarantee to the blossoming and flourishing of democratic values, the vice president is quoted as saying in an official release. Dhankhar said all in the country need to realise that nobody is above the law and that the people in authority and high positions need to take cognizance of this in a larger public interest and to enhance the democratic ecosystem. The late JS Verma served as the 27th Chief Justice of India from March 25, 1997, to January 18, 1998. Late Justice Jagdish Sharan Verma will always be best remembered for path-breaking judgments and ideas that have empowered citizens and enab

'Democracy Network' programme will boost India's foreign relations: Goa CM

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said the "Gen Next Democracy Network" programme will help strengthen the "multi-faceted" relationship that India shares with other democratic countries

Democracy holds India together as country and economy: BS Panel

For the next 25 years, the panellists picked equitable wealth distribution as the biggest issue to be addressed

Amrit Kaal: Towards the centenary of India's Independence

Any strategy for the next 25 years must be ready for both positive and negative episodes

World listens when India speaks, says Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in US

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla interacted with members of the Indian diaspora and Indian students studying in the United States on Saturday and said the voice of the country reverberates around the world as its democracy is the most dynamic and vibrant. On his arrival in Boston, Birla visited the Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He interacted with the faculties, resource persons and students there. Interacting with the Indian students and members of the diaspora, Birla shared the country's growth story and said the Indian diaspora is held in high esteem across the world due to their work ethics and culture, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said in a statement. He also noted that members of the Indian diaspora have always come to the aid of their motherland as well as their host countries, whenever called upon in times of need. Talking about the Indian democracy, Birla said it is the biggest strength of the country and it has accelerated India's ...