Sarfaraz Ahmed Qasmi, Hyderabad. Contact: 8099695186
The current situation in the country and the manner in which constitutional and democratic principles are being trampled upon, lawlessness prevails everywhere, and people's anxiety is increasing, raising the question of whether democracy has truly come to an end in India? And has the democratic system of India been completely crushed? Last week, senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, expressed his views, saying that humility and modesty are the answer to understanding and respecting people. He also stated that the ruling party in the country poses a threat to democracy and that democracy is in danger here.
In a speech to students at a private school in the hilly region of Tamil Nadu, Rahul Gandhi said that in this information age, with IT, AI, robotics, data, and beta, all information is available. He described the campus as a beautiful environment, a beautiful school, and an extraordinary education in such an environment. During a conversation with the students, he asked who their good teacher was? One of them said that Dr. Aliya was their teacher. When Gandhi asked the student why Dr. Aliya was a good teacher, the student replied that she teaches with love and affection and explains their subjects to them with kindness.
Regarding information and knowledge, the Congress leader said that if you want to learn, you need an environment like this, an environment of love, respect, and kindness. He stated that he wants to create an India where people are very kind to each other, respect each other, and respect each other's languages, religions, and traditions. Many people of different religions live in the country, and India belongs to everyone. Currently, democracy in India is in danger.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav stated last week that the BJP is again involved in creating fake votes and is determined to pollute the democratic system. If BJP people are found to be involved in creating fake votes, an FIR will be lodged against the officers and employees involved. Akhilesh Yadav was discussing the voter list under the Special Summary Revision (SSR). Addressing a large number of workers and leaders from various districts at the party's state office, he said that the FIR format is being sent to all BLAs and booth in-charges of the Samajwadi Party.
Akhilesh Yadav said that to form a Samajwadi Party government in 2027, workers should unite and go door-to-door, contacting people and informing them about the party's policies and programs. He appealed to the respected people of the state to beware of the BJP's conspiracies. He said that the people and voters of the state are not with the BJP, and the BJP is playing the role of a land mafia, illegally occupying government and poor people's lands across the state. Corruption and looting are rampant, and corruption is happening in every department. The BJP government has taken corruption to new heights, and in the 2027 assembly elections, the BJP will be wiped out.
In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee demanded the protection of the Constitution and democracy from the Chief Justice. She said to the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, that he should protect the country's Constitution, democracy, and judiciary. Mamata Banerjee, who is also the TMC chief, asked the Chief Justice to ensure that media trials of cases are stopped before they are completed. This trend is increasing, where media trials are being held before the cases are even completed.
The Congress party has accused the government of deliberately destroying the education system, stating that quality education is the foundation of any developed nation, but during the BJP's rule, education has also been targeted under a political agenda. Congress General Secretary Naseer Hussain said that the BJP has made a mockery of education. He cited the example of Abdul Naeem, who spent his own money to build a school in Betul, Madhya Pradesh, but the BJP's ecosystem spread rumors that a madrasa was being run there, and the school was demolished.
Hussain said that in Jammu and Kashmir, a medical college was closed, and in Belgaum, Karnataka, a Muslim headmaster of a school was removed. In Assam's Nalbari, a Christmas celebration at a school was vandalized. In Uttar Pradesh, Christmas holidays were previously given, but this time, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other organizations demanded that the holiday be canceled, which was accepted by the BJP government.
The country's democracy is in a state where Muslim religious places and institutions are being bulldozed without any court orders or notices, and the entire system remains a silent spectator. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen was recently issued a notice for a trivial reason, while the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the construction of the Ram temple are being justified as a matter of national pride.
The Prime Minister's speech at the Ram temple event, where he described Ram as the symbol of India's development and pride, raises many questions. Is there a place for Muslims, Christians, and atheists in the dream of a developed India? The event was attended by Abhijit Mahapatra, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, indicating that it was not just a religious event but a display of ideological power.
The question arises whether India is still a democracy or has entered a new era where religion and government are intertwined. The government's role is not to promote worship but to uphold justice and the rule of law. While individuals and groups have the right to practice their religious rituals, if the state itself promotes a particular religious symbol with full official protocol, it becomes a matter of power distribution, not devotion.
The author is a well-known journalist and political analyst.
