D.K Pandita
India got independence in a hostile environment which posed huge challenges for a newly born nation. There was mass poverty, illiteracy, hunger, poor industrial and agricultural base to support a large population. Moreover, there were demands for linguistic reorganization of states leading to rise of secessionist trends. Thus, it was predicted by political analysts that Indian democracy will not survive under such conditions. However, it was India’s strong commitment to its democratic principles that India not only survived as a nation but also emerged as a leader of third world countries. Now India has a 72-years history of democracy, tolerance and rule of law, and a successful record of managing its patchwork of cultures and religions. The political system in India has ‘parliamentary democracy’ comprising of federal structure which primarily incorporates ‘regional aspirations’ and fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution. It does establish a Government of laws, the mass media reflecting the contour of Indian society, the civil services, striving to ensure a high degree of administrative efficiency; the election commission playing the role of a pillar, bridging the gap between political parties and judiciary besides protecting rights of citizens. Nevertheless, the government is totally committed to protecting the unity and integrity of the country in total compliance to the constitution, despite facing practices often orchestrated by forces with ulterior motives to demean and derail its smooth functioning.
Since 1950 when India incorporated its present constitution, the democratic system of India has been tested by various internal and external forces for their own egocentric interests, however this test is growing with the declining number trend of opposition parties at national level. At present with the second consecutive victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Bharatiya Janata Party in the May 2019 general elections, this situation has been changing under the impact of an ever-increasing pro nationalist grip on society and politics. After Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority state, lost its internal autonomy ensured by Congress led by Nehru, the Government adopted the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), allowing foreigners from six religious communities living in three neighboring countries under hostile conditions can apply for Indian citizenship and will get citizenship at a faster pace, introduction of Triple Talaq followed by peaceful settlement of centuries old waxed, Ram Janam Bhoomi dispute ……… These new decisions/legislation has created an undercurrent among different groups which prompted protests and divisive politics across India, as, according to both internal and external observers, all these issue would prompt some people to think on religious lines which risks undermining the country’s traditional strong secularism. At the same time, India’s economy is experiencing a severe downturn: even before the Coronavirus (Covid 19) outbreak started to have an effect, its growth was slackening and so was job creation, while at the same time unemployment is high, consumer confidence and spending are low, and trust in the banking sector is eroding as credit weakness and non-performing loans hinder its performance. Contrary to expectations, the Union budget for financial year 2021 was announced to tackled existing structural weaknesses and generate a large fiscal stimulus as an answer to the slowdown. Although Government has started on war footing the new economic reforms particularly the ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Mission’.
From November 2020 to February 2021 farmers have been protesting for more than three months now at the borders surrounding the national capital, with the agitation taking a violent turn on on India’s 72nd Republic Day. The government says the new laws would unshackle farmers and private investment, bringing growth. The shameful act by some unruly miscreants with slogans “Lal Quila Hamara Hai”, which focused on the Republic Day violence. The minimal use of force by Delhi administration cant’ be taken as a weak decision against the protesting farmers, although, the Union Government tried to solve the farmers demands but the rigidity shown by some farmers leaders overtly and covertly supported by some political and religious groups with their hidden agenda have not only discredited the secularism of Indian democracy but has created a muzzy picture of Indian secularism at international level which is presently the largest democracy of world. The latest speech given by Gh.Nabi Azad (LOP) in Rajya Sabha on Indian secularism particularly for Indian Muslims is not only a eye opener for the opposition parties in India but to those leaders living across the borders, who propagate the growth of Hindu fundamentalism during NDA rule in Indian led by Modi. All such forces are not only trying to destabilize the Indian Government but are creating the hurdles in the socio-economic growth of country at the global level. It is the right time to stand with Government and support it, to win this hidden war against our secularism and the centuries old mutual trust.
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