Democracy Under Siege: India’s Global Standing In Free Fall – OpEd

India, the world’s largest democracy, has been hailed as a beacon of democracy in the developing world. However, in recent years, India’s democracy has come under threat, with a number of worrying trends emerging.

There has been serious concern worldwide about an ominous trend of India’s backsliding democracy in the last few years. India’s Human Freedom Index has already plummeted 17 spots to 111th rank out of 162 countries, and the country was ranked 142 in the Press Freedom Index. The country has also witnessed a fall of 26 spots in the Global Economic Freedom Index along with low scores on academic freedom and internet freedom indices. All these factors hint at a steady decline of political democracy in India.

Erosion of Democratic Institutions

The erosion of democratic institutions has been phenomenal. One of the key indicators of a healthy democracy is the strength of its institutions. In India, however, these institutions have been under threat in recent years. The judiciary, for example, has been subject to political interference, with the appointment of judges becoming increasingly politicized. In 2018, four senior judges of the Supreme Court held a press conference to express their concerns about the functioning of the court, including the allocation of cases to judges with less seniority. This was a remarkable event, as it marked the first time that sitting judges of the Supreme Court had publicly criticized its functioning.

Another institution that has come under threat is the Election Commission of India (ECI), which is responsible for organizing and overseeing elections in the country. The ECI has been accused of bias in its handling of elections, particularly in the case of the 2019 general election, where opposition parties alleged that the ECI was working in favor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In addition, the ECI has been criticized for its handling of electronic voting machines (EVMs), which have been the subject of controversy due to concerns about their security and vulnerability to tampering.

Restrictions on Free Speech and Media Freedom

Restrictions on free speech and media freedom in recent years are bound to raise a tocsin of alarm as India has witnessed a censorship raj during Indira Gandhi’s Emergency period. It’s obvious that a key indicator of a healthy democracy is the freedom of expression and the press. In recent years, however, India has seen a worrying trend towards restrictions on free speech and media freedom. The government has used laws such as the sedition law and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to crack down on dissent and silence critics. In addition, journalists who are critical of the government have been subject to harassment and intimidation, with several cases of journalists being arrested under false charges.

The government has also taken steps to restrict online freedom of expression, with the introduction of new rules for social media platforms in 2021. These rules require social media companies to remove content deemed to be “unlawful” within 36 hours of receiving a complaint, and to identify the “first originator” of messages that are deemed to be a threat to national security. Critics argue that these rules are a threat to free speech and could be used to stifle dissent.

Discrimination and Violence Against Minorities

Shameful discrimination and violence against minorities have been disrupting the rich heritage of diversity in Indian culture. Discrimination and violence against minorities is another worrying trend in India’s backsliding democracy. In recent years, there have been several incidents of violence against religious minorities, particularly Muslims. In 2019, for example, a mob attacked a Muslim man in the state of Jharkhand, accusing him of transporting beef. The man later died of his injuries. In addition, there have been several incidents of lynching of Muslims by mobs who accuse them of cow slaughter or beef consumption. Even minority Christians were not spared. In a barbaric event, Graham Staines, a 58-year-old Australian Christian missionary, was burnt to death with his two sons in Keonjhar district in Odisha in 1999 allegedly by Hindu activists.

The government has also been criticized for its treatment of other minorities, such as Dalits and Adivasis. Dalits, who are considered to be the lowest caste in the Hindu caste system, have been subject to discrimination and violence for centuries. In recent years, there have been several incidents of Dalits being attacked for asserting their rights, such as entering temples or marrying outside their caste. Similarly, Adivasis, who are indigenous people in India, have been subject to displacement and violence as a result of government policies that favor industrialization and development. These incidents pinpoint that the principles of pluralism as a backbone of democratic polity is being violated openly under the present regime.

Rise of Authoritarianism

The rise of authoritarianism is perhaps the most worrying trend in India’s backsliding democracy. The current government, led by the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been accused of undermining democratic norms and institutions in order to consolidate power. This has been reflected in several policies and actions taken by the government, such as the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, which gave the region special status, and the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which provides a path to citizenship for non-Muslim illegal immigrants from neighboring countries.

In addition, the government has been accused of using state power to target its political opponents. In 2020, for example, several opposition leaders, including former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, were placed under house arrest in the run-up to the passage of the CAA. Similarly, several activists and academics who have been critical of the government have been arrested under the UAPA, which has been described as a draconian law that is being used to silence dissent. All these issues indicate a steady decline of India’s democracy.

Global Reputation: A Waning Democratic Credibility

India’s backsliding democracy is a cause for concern not only for its citizens but also for the international community. The erosion of democratic institutions, restrictions on free speech and media freedom, discrimination and violence against minorities, and the rise of authoritarianism are all indicators of a democracy in decline. International watchdogs such as Freedom House have downgraded India’s status from “free” to “partly free,” reflecting the decline in political rights and civil liberties. The Human Freedom Index and the Press Freedom Index also highlight the deteriorating state of democratic freedoms in the country.

Internationally, there is growing concern about India’s democratic backsliding. Human rights organizations and some Western governments have criticized the Modi administration’s policies. However, geopolitical considerations, particularly India’s role in countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific, often temper these criticisms.

Defending Democracy

India’s backsliding democracy is a cause for concern not only for its citizens but also for the international community. The erosion of democratic institutions, restrictions on free speech and media freedom, discrimination and violence against minorities, and the rise of authoritarianism are all indicators of a democracy in decline. It is important for the government to take steps to address these issues and strengthen democratic norms and institutions in the country. This includes ensuring the independence of the judiciary, protecting free speech and media freedom, and promoting equality and justice for all citizens. Only through such measures can India continue to be a beacon of democracy in the developing world.

It is important for the government to take steps to address these issues and strengthen democratic norms and institutions in the country. This includes ensuring the independence of the judiciary, protecting free speech and media freedom, and promoting equality and justice for all citizens. Civil society, opposition parties, and the international community must hold the government accountable and advocate for the preservation of democratic values. Only through such measures can India reclaim its status as a beacon of democracy in the developing world.

This article is originally published on https://www.eurasiareview.com/08072024-democracy-under-siege-indias-global-standing-in-free-fall-oped/