Page 2 - Indian Democracy
'The Identity Project' explains multiple fault lines of India's democracy
Can India, as a democracy, progress without reverting to the fragile, papered-over secularism of the past? Rahul Bhatia explores this question in his book
Misconception that traditional values antithetical to democratic ideas: CJI
Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Tuesday said there is a misconceived perception that the traditional values of communities of India and Bhutan are antithetical to modern democratic ideas such as liberty, equality and dissent. Speaking at the third convocation ceremony of Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law of Bhutan, CJI Chandrachud said both India and Bhutan are home to communities that rely on traditional community-based dispute resolution and governance mechanisms. He said that such mechanisms must not be shunned as traditional and archaic. Instead, they must be supplemented by modern constitutional ideas. "There is often a misconceived perception that the traditional values of our communities are antithetical to modern democratic ideas such as liberty, equality and dissent. However, a dispassionate look at the history of our communities in Asia often yields a different answer," he told the young graduates. Pointing out that in India, the Constitution itself provides
Concerted effort in last 10 years to erode democratic structures: Kharge
Asserting that 2024 is a watershed year for India's democracy, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said 140 crore Indians gave a verdict which believed in our long-standing institutions, painstakingly built by the makers of our nation. He also alleged that in the past 10 years, there has been a concerted effort to erode democratic structures, bulldoze institutions and hurt the integrity of our systems. Kharge quoted India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru as saying, "Democracy is the best form of government. It allows people to have a say in how they are governed and to hold their leaders accountable." "The year 2024 is a watershed year for India's Democracy. 140 crore Indians gave a verdict which believed in our long-standing institutions, painstakingly built by the makers of our nation," Kharge said in a reference to the 2024 Lok Sabha poll results. "Now, we have to be far more vigilant to uphold the values of our parliamentary democracy and Constitution and ...
Indian democracy broken from last 10 years, now it is fighting back: Rahul
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has alleged that democracy in India for the last 10 years was broken, but now it is fighting back. Gandhi made these remarks on Tuesday while talking to reporters at a news conference here at the National Press Club. I can say to you that Indian democracy for the last 10 years was broken. It's fighting back, but it was broken, Gandhi said. I have seen the government of Maharashtra just being taken away from us. I've seen it with my own eyes. I've watched it, as our legislators have been bought in and hooked off and suddenly became BJP legislators. So Indian democracy has been under attack, has been very badly weakened, and now it's fighting back. And I'm confident that it'll fight back, Gandhi said. If you see the election results, does it give you more hope for a democracy in India? he was asked. Yeah, I mean, it does. But it's not good enough to say that the Indian voter is resilient and knowledgeable. Because the Indian voter is informed by a w
Parl security breach chargesheet: Accused wanted to discredit democracy
The December 13, 2023 Parliament security breach accused wanted to discredit India's democracy, gain instant global fame, usurp power and achieve "richness and glory" by targeting the "very symbol of democracy", according to the chargesheet filed in the court by Delhi Police. The accused first met on social media and planned their move for nearly two years before executing it last year on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack. According to the chargesheet, a source said, their first in-person meeting was held in February, 2022 at Mysuru. Citing from the chargesheet, sources told PTI, that in total they held five meetings in Mysuru, Gurugram and Delhi to decided finalise their plan and arrive at a modus operandi. The chargesheet, spread over 1,000 pages, was filed before the Patiala House Court in June and the court took its cognisance last month. A supplementary was filed in July. The chargesheet mentioned that the group of young people, led by Manoranjan D, a resident of .
India an avid, committed advocate of multilateralism: UNGA Prez Francis
Describing India as a leader at the United Nations, General Assembly President Dennis Francis has said the country has been an avid and committed advocate of multilateralism and as a democracy of 1.4 billion people, it has a bright future in making a continued strong contribution to global affairs. The remarks by Francis, the President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, came ahead of the end of his year-long tenure on Monday as head of the 193-member UN body. There's no doubt about it - India is definitely a leader at the United Nations. India has been an avid and committed advocate of multilateralism, which is very much valued by the United Nations, Francis told PTI in an exclusive interview here. Former Prime Minister of Cameroon Philemon Yang will take over as President of the 79th Session of the General Assembly on September 10. Francis underlined that he expects India's role to continue and be strengthened. "We know of course that India has an ambition to become
'Have blood ties with J-K': Rahul Gandhi sounds poll bugle in the Valley
In his first visit to Jammu-Kashmir after the announcement of assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi said that restoration of statehood is a priority for both him and his party
Anatomy of a democratic coup
How did the Weimar Republic, Germany's first democracy, fall to the Nazis? Takeover reprises the dramatic six months before Hitler's rise
People have reposed faith in democratic system: PM Modi during Mann Ki Baat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said people had reposed their unwavering faith in the Constitution and the democratic system of the country by their participation in the 2024 general elections. The prime minister made the remarks in his Mann Ki Baat radio address, the first after the polls. The radio broadcast had had taken a break in February ahead of the general elections. "Today, I thank the countrymen for reposing their unwavering faith in our Constitution and the democratic system of the country," Modi said. He said the 2024 election was the biggest election in the world. "Such a big election has never taken place in any country in the world. More than 65 crore people voted in the election," the prime minister said. He congratulated the Election Commission and every person associated with the election process. During the radio address, the prime minister spoke of initiatives such as 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' launched on the World Environment Day to plant trees. "I am glad
'Constitutional Morality' essential to India's diversity: CJI Chandrachud
Espousing the importance of implementing Constitutional Morality' in Indian jurisprudence, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Saturday insisted on the commitment of courts to ensure diversity, inclusion and tolerance. Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day East Zone II Regional Conference of the National Judicial Academy, the CJI also focused on the importance of technological advancements in the justice delivery system. CJI Chandrachud elaborated on the notion of Constitutional Morality' as a restraining factor on the state that should derive from the Preambluar values of the Constitution. Underlining the country's federal structure that's marked by a great deal of diversity, the CJI focused on the role of judges in preserving the diversity of India. I am reticent when people call courts a temple of justice. Because that would mean the judges are deities which they are not. They are instead servers of the people, who deliver justice with compassion and empathy, CJ
Govt must focus on current issues: Oppn slams Modi over 'Emergency' remark
Opposition leaders hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "Emergency" remark on Monday, questioning his government's style of functioning and saying that it needs to focus on present issues. Addressing the media in the Parliament complex ahead of the start of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, Modi mentioned that the anniversary of the Emergency falls on June 25 and termed it a black spot in India's parliamentary history when the Constitution was discarded and the country turned into a prison. Reacting to the remark, Mahua Moitra of the TMC said the BJP fell short of a majority in the election because the people of the country have realised that it is against the Constitution. "From 303, the BJP is down to 240, they are running a minority government. They kept saying '400-paar' but could not even get a simple majority. "The only reason is that the people of the country have understood that there is BJP on one side and the Constitution on the other. People have chose
People's blessing in elections a 'victory of democracy': PM Modi in Italy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday highlighted the recently-held Lok Sabha elections in his address at an outreach session of the G7 summit here and said the "blessings" that the people of India have given in the form of a historic win in the polls is a "victory of democracy". The prime minister in his speech also shared some figures to underline the mammoth scale of the world's largest democratic exercise in India which was held between April 19 and June 1 in seven phases. Votes were counted on June 4. Modi is in Italy to attend the 50th G7 Summit at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni. He addressed an outreach session on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean, alongside leaders from other countries, including Pope Francis. This is his first foreign visit after being sworn in as the prime minister of India for the third consecutive time after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's victory in the general elections. "The blessings
Voters proved West wrong about Indian democracy: Indian-American leader
Prominent Indian-American leader Jasdeep Singh Jassee said the recently concluded polls in India have not only highlighted the robust electoral process in the country but also sent a powerful message to the world about the resilience and vibrancy of its democracy. Despite a wave of scepticism from the Western media regarding the integrity of India's democratic processes, the results have decisively dispelled such doubts, Sikhs for America leader Jasdeep Singh Jassee told PTI in an interview. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to take oath for a third consecutive term, a first in over 60 years. Singh, who was in Punjab for two weeks during the general elections, said that the allegations appearing in the west of a compromised Election Commission and malfunctioning voting machines have been proven baseless, underscoring the legitimacy and fairness of the elections in the country. "The people of India, through their votes, have demonstrated that they prioritise the nation's overall .
US commends India's elections, refrains from commenting on results
The US on Tuesday praised India's parliamentary elections as the "largest exercise of democracy in history", while refraining from commenting on the outcomes of the polls. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller commended the Indian government and its voters for successfully completing the massive electoral process. "On behalf of the United States, we want to commend the government of India and voters there for successfully completing and participating in such a massive electoral undertaking, and we look forward to seeing final results," he stated during his daily news briefing. Miller emphasised the US stance on not commenting on electoral winners and losers worldwide. "I'm also not going to comment on winners and losers in elections as is our case around the world. What is important for us and what we have seen over the past six weeks is the largest exercise of democracy in history, as the Indian people came to the polls," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Tuesday
UN Chief congratulates India for engaging in massive democratic exercise
United N Secretary General Antonio Guterres has congratulated the people of India for engaging in the "massive exercise of democracy", his spokesperson said on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lead the government for the third successive term following results of the 2024 general elections in the world's largest democracy. "We can't officially comment until all the voting, all the counting has been done. But we understand that the counting is still taking place. We hope to have a much more official statement once everything has been said and done, Florencia Soto Nio, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing in response to a question on the results of the Indian elections. "We of course want to congratulate the people of India for engaging in this massive exercise of democracy as they are the largest democratic elections in the world, she said. The BJP, whose candidates had contested in the name of Modi, won or was ahead in
An open record of dissent
This compendium is indeed a record of not one, but an entire series of revolutionary acts by a group who chose not to hang up their boots
Festival of democracy to be successful when it defeats dictators: Kharge
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged people on Saturday to vote for change and asserted that the "festival of democracy" will be considered successful only when democratic powers defeat the dictatorial ones. He said the last phase of voting to save the Constitution and democracy was underway in the country and the INDIA bloc was fighting the dictatorial powers with courage. "The battle is now in its final phase. The public has stood firmly with us in every phase. After six phases, people want to see us win," Kharge said in a post on 'X'. The people want to see the Congress' guarantees fulfilled, he added. "This time the country has supported and sided with 'Yuva Nyay, Kisaan Nyay, Nari Nyay, Shramik Nyay and Hissedari Nyay. "This festival of democracy will be considered successful only when the democratic powers defeat the dictatorial powers," the Congress leader said. "Today, when you press the EVM button for 57 seats in 8 states and Union territories, think about the Pre
LS polls 2024: Democracy thrives when people are engaged says PM Modi
Union Home Minister also appealed to the voters to come out and vote against appeasement and corruption
Your one vote will protect democracy, Constitution: Priyanka to voters
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday urged people to cast their ballot in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls, stressing that their vote will free the country from inflation, unemployment and economic crisis. Voting is being held in 49 constituencies in six states and two union territories in the fifth phase, which will decide the electoral fate of several prominent leaders like former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah. In a post in Hindi on X, Priyanka Gandhi said, "With your one vote, Rs 1 lakh will come into the account of a woman from every poor family annually, every citizen will get the facility of free treatment worth Rs 25 lakh, the youth will get 30 lakh government jobs, the youth will get apprenticeship worth (Rs) 1 lakh annually, and SC/ST/OBC will get proper participation." "Your one vote will protect democracy and the Constitution of the country," the ..
India among the few vibrant democracies across world, says White House
Applauding the people of India for exercising their right to vote, the White House on Friday said there are not too many more vibrant democracies in the world than India. Not too many more vibrant democracies in the world than India. And we applaud the Indian people for exercising, you know, their ability to vote, and to have a voice in their future government. And we wish them well throughout the process, of course, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters at a news conference here. Kirby was responding to a question on the ongoing Indian elections, wherein over 969 million people are exercising their right to franchise at one million polling stations to elect 545 members of parliament from thousands of candidates representing as many as 2,660 registered political parties. Responding to another question, Kirby said the India-US relationship has strengthened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular during the last three years of the Bide
