Topic: Congress

I pray that with the revival of democracy, there will be a revival of the fourth estate within the country which has all but lost character the past 10 years. Barring a couple of internet platforms whose owners were made to face the dreaded institutions, every press and media agency has genuflected before Modi and changed course to remain in his good books. If Shekhar Gupta credits this election with the revival of democracy, he must also pledge to revive his professional community to re-establish its non-partisan attitude while covering news and events before presenting them to the people.

Mr. Gupta, India’s democracy may not be dead but it has been badly beaten and bruised during BJP’s last two terms. Secondly, voters have been polarised; elections results of the recent past prove this. Thirdly, anyone half awake can see that the EC is compromised. Even the selection process for the commissioners has been amended to ensure bias. And just because there is a worse example in Mexico, doesn’t mean Indian elections have been impartially conducted. If not physical, political assassinations did take place here (e.g., Surat, Indore)

India itself is a coalition. Layered across many textures. True, there were moments in UPA II when coalition compulsions became a derogatory term, but, in the main, how did non single party governments in Delhi hurt either normal governance or economic growth. Those governments could not have done something like Demonetisation. Avoided answering tough questions on Ladakh or the pandemic. Constructed a new Parliament House without a minute’s discussion in Parliament. I think we need to revisit this entire concept of strong governments with brute majorities. Recall the multiple missteps of PM Rajiv Gandhi with 414 lampposts.