The Indian Constitution acknowledges and affirms ‘democracy’ as the way of life for every individual citizen of this country and has set a model for the world at large. Our political context today does not make it evident that "democracy has become a global choice of governance.” Some of the following incidents in our democracy lead us to re-examine the very idea and purpose of democracy and the question whether it serves the purpose:
The entire winter session of the Indian Parliament was simply usurped by the opposition parties. Several hundred crores of money and precious time was wasted just to have a discussion on a ‘scam’ of similar value.
Every other day we as the public are given the terrible news that some kind of violence has claimed lots of lives in civil society and several hundred crores worth of public properties have been damaged and destroyed.
Several State administrations are not able to handle the public demonstrations against the policy decisions of the states and their demands. The younger generations of this era are provoked by both fundamental and other political ideologies.
States silencing the Human Right whistle blowers who are raising their voices against the structural injustices of the States. And the States misusing the state and legislative machineries to make them prisoners for life.
In our parliamentary system the ‘majority- minority’ composition in democracy also demands a re-look. The recent coalition / multi-party method of administering the State also have to be reviewed democratically. The extreme end ideologists are coming together for power and rule the Nation. They fight between themselves and finally nothing happens.
As per media reports, professional and commercial lobbyists from both business and media fields are engaged to decide the State governance by the political parties.
Even the bureaucrats and law executers have been manipulating and abusing their office power and thereby weakening the democracy.
And the Money decides the electoral candidates.
In this situation how will we interpret the existing democracy? In order to arrive at an assessment of how "really” existing democracy in India has fared, and also to re-examine and rediscover attempts and struggles to reconstitute democracy, it is of utmost importance to contextualize and discuss the socio-political system within which politicians, bureaucrats, law executers, media personal and others are functioning.
Therefore, we as an individual who have faith in our Indian Constitution and Democracy and as a responsible citizen are invited initiate a public discussion on ‘Is Indian Democracy in Peril?
If our answer is NO, how would we justify our stand?
If ‘YES’ what exactly does democracy mean to the country at large?
If democracy is ‘for’, ‘by’ and ‘of’ the people, who are the custodians of democracy?
Who is accountable when democracy is annihilated? Is it State or Citizens?
Does the present political-administrative system allow the citizens to play a key role in safeguarding democracy?
What could be our response?
How are we going to address this issue?
How can we assure democracy?
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