Democracy in crisis, says Bhushan

  • | Sunday | 22nd July, 2018

Noted advocate and activist Prashant Bhushan on Saturday said that the country is witnessing an unprecedented crisis of democracy with many of the Constitutional institutions being allegedly undermined in a systematic manner. Mr. Bhushan accused the BJP-led Union government of weakening the judiciary by attempting to impose its authority in its functioning. Mr. Bhushan also lamented that the country’s electoral system was increasingly being driven by money power, which enabled the major political parties to gain greater visibility among the voters. Delivering the keynote address, economist Mary George said that none of the political parties, including the Congress and the CPI (M), maintained a secular stance, despite claiming to subscribe to secular ideals. Besides reforms, the country is in dire need of an engaged citizenry to tide over the crisis,” he said.

more-in Noted advocate and activist Prashant Bhushan on Saturday said that the country is witnessing an unprecedented crisis of democracy with many of the Constitutional institutions being allegedly undermined in a systematic manner. He was inaugurating a socio-political audit conference by a ‘shadow cabinet,’ constituted by Voters’ Alliance, to review the achievements of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. Mr. Bhushan accused the BJP-led Union government of weakening the judiciary by attempting to impose its authority in its functioning. Besides, the government has sought to erode the public confidence in judiciary by delaying judicial appointments. More than half of the posts at the Supreme Court and High Courts have been vacant for long, he said. He also criticised the government for its alleged failure in appointing a Lok Pal and notifying the Whistleblowers Protection Act, despite being passed over four years ago. “Besides, controversial appointments were made to the Central Vigilance Commission and the Central Bureau of India recently. We also have an Election Commission of India that has sided with the government. Besides reforms, the country is in dire need of an engaged citizenry to tide over the crisis,” he said. Mr. Bhushan also lamented that the country’s electoral system was increasingly being driven by money power, which enabled the major political parties to gain greater visibility among the voters. “While non-governmental organisations like Greenpeace India had faced their Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licenses being cancelled and getting hounded for receiving foreign funds, political parties have been permitted to accept foreign funds from subsidiaries of foreign companies. Besides enabling private companies to donate unlimited funds to political parties, the introduction of electoral bonds have opened the doors to anonymous funding and direct kickbacks for parties for commercial favours that have been rendered,” Mr. Bhushan pointed out. Delivering the keynote address, economist Mary George said that none of the political parties, including the Congress and the CPI (M), maintained a secular stance, despite claiming to subscribe to secular ideals. They have always sought to appease religious and community organisations to cater to their political interests, she said. Advocate Asha, the Chief Minister of the ‘shadow government,’ who presided over the programme, said that atrocities against marginalised communities, including tribals, and migrant labourers were on the rise in the State. ‘Hollow claims’ Moreover, several claims that were being made by the LDF government including that of Kerala being declared as an open defecation free (ODF) State were hollow. On the other hand, the Opposition has been ineffective and has failed to function as a corrective force, she added. Lawyer K. Ayyappan Pillai, Voters’ Alliance chairman John Joseph and social activist Dejo Kappan were also present.

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