Democracy

World 'turning the tide' toward democracy, says US President Biden

Efforts to strengthen democracies around the globe are working and the world is turning the tide towards greater freedom, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday as he sought to assure that democratic institutions work. Addressing his second global summit on democracy, Biden also announced that the US intends to commit USD 9.5 billion to advance democracy around the world. At the time of the first summit in December of 2021, the sentiment in too many places around the world was that democracy's best days were behind. Democracy had declined by some measures for 15 consecutive years. But this year, we can say there's a different story to tell, Biden said. Thanks to the commitment, thanks to the commitment of leaders of global -- gathered today and the persistence of people in every region of the world demanding their rights be respected and their voices being heard, we're seeing real indications, real indications that we're turning the tide here, he said. Biden led a virtual summit

UN calls for democracy in Myanmar after army dissolves Aung San's party

After the dissolution of Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the United Nations has called for a return to democracy in the country

Will fight for democracy even if disqualified permanently: Rahul Gandhi

A combative Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that even if he is disqualified from Parliament for life or jailed, he would keep defending the democratic nature of the country, and claimed that a "panic-stricken" government has handed the Opposition a "weapon" with the move to disqualify him. At his first press conference after being disqualified from the Lok Sabha, Gandhi claimed that he has been disqualified because Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "scared" of his next speech on the Adani issue and alleged that the "whole game" was to distract people from the panic that the government was feeling over the matter. Gandhi said the moot question remains who invested Rs 20,000 crore in Adani shell firms and that he will keep raising it. "I am here defending the democratic voice of the Indian people, I will continue to do that. I am not scared of these threats, of these disqualifications, allegations, prison sentences. I am not scared of them. These people don't understand me yet, I am not

Democracy not in peril, Congress has been brought to perish: Smriti Irani

Union minister Smiriti Irani on Wednesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks in the UK, saying India's democracy is not in peril but his party has been brought to political perish by the people for the kind of behaviour that he exhibited overseas. Gandhi's grudge with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the shape of a grudge with india, she charged. During his interactions in the UK recently, Gandhi alleged that the structures of Indian democracy are under attack and there is a "full-scale assault" on the country's institutions. His remarks triggered a political row, with the BJP accusing him of maligning India on foreign soil and seeking foreign interventions and the Congress hitting back at the ruling party by citing instances of Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising internal politics abroad. Hitting out at Gandhi over his remarks, Irani asked, When Gandhi family directs Congress men and women to tear papers and throw it at the Speaker's chair in Lok .

Democratic capitalism in peril?

Markets and democracy are not necessarily compatible, and the inherent tensions are becoming more apparent than ever

No method in the madness

A new critique of the V-Dem democracy rankings highlights where the problem lies

Democracy in India facing trouble: Sanjay Raut after I-T survey at BBC

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said democracy in India is facing trouble, comments coming in the backdrop of the Income Tax department survey at the BBC's offices in the country. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in its earlier avatar as the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), had opposed the Emergency (1975-77), but the same outfit is now targeting the judiciary and the media. The Income Tax department on Tuesday conducted survey operations for over ten hours at the BBC's offices in Delhi, Mumbai and two other linked locations as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion, officials said in the national capital. When questions are asked to the government or Prime Minister, such raids take place (referring to I-T survey at BBC offices) or arrests are made. Democracy in this country is in trouble. "During the Emergency, when censorship was forced on newspapers, the BJP (in its previous avatar BJS) had agitated against it. Now, when their government is

Democracy was 'cremated' in Lok Sabha: Cong on expunging of Rahul's remarks

The Congress on Wednesday strongly criticised the expunging of certain remarks by Rahul Gandhi in Parliament targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and alleged that "democracy was cremated" in Lok Sabha. Gandhi had made these remarks while participating in a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "With the expunging of Rahul Gandhi's remarks on PM linked Adani Maha Mega Scam, deMOcracy was cremated in the Lok Sabha. OM Shanti." In his remarks in Lok Sabha, Gandhi had alleged that the meteoric rise in Gautam Adani's fortunes happened after the BJP came to power in 2014 and he rose from the 609th to the second spot in the global rich list. The Congress leader's remarks had drawn a sharp response from Treasury benches, with Law Minister Kiren Rijiju asking him not to level "wild allegations" and to furnish proof of his claims. Outside Parliament, BJP leader Ravi Shanka

More competitive Congress must for revival of healthy democracy: Guha

Historian Ramachandra Guha on Tuesday said that to "revive" healthy democracy in India in which one party does not steamroll the Opposition, a lot depends on the Congress becoming more competitive, which won't happen merely through a march but by winning votes. Guha was speaking at the launch of the third edition of his seminal work, "India After Gandhi", here. "Objectively, it is only the Congress that has a footprint, shall we say, in eight to 12 states. So to have healthy democracy in which one party does not steamroll the Opposition, the kind that India experienced from the late 1970s till 2014, to revive that, to restore it, which I believe would be very good for all of us, it would depend a lot on the Congress becoming more competitive," he claimed. To buttress his point, Guha spoke about how among all other parties it was the Congress that fought the BJP head-to-head in as many as 191 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He claimed the same would happen in the 2024 general

Structural strength

The basic structure of the Constitution has authority

Delhi L-G making mockery of democracy by refusing to meet CM, MLAs: AAP

The Delhi-ruling AAP said on Saturday that Lt Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena is making mockery of democracy by refusing to meet Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the elected MLAs

Protests against Boluarte's govt spread in Peru, clashes in Cusco

Protests against Peruvian President Dina Boluarte's government that have left 47 people dead since they began a month ago spread through the south of the Andean country on Wednesday with new clashes reported in the tourist city of Cusco. Health officials in Cusco said 16 civilians and six police officers were injured after protesters tried to take over the city's airport, where many foreign tourists arrive to see sites including the nearby Incan citadel of Machu Picchu. Protests and road blockades against Boluarte and in support of ousted President Pedro Castillo were also seen in 41 provinces, mainly in Peru's south. The unrest began in early December following the destitution and arrest of Castillo, Peru's first president of humble, rural roots, following his widely condemned attempt to dissolve Congress and head off his own impeachment. The protest, mainly in neglected rural areas of the country still loyal to Castillo, are seeking immediate elections, Boluarte's resignation, ..

Brazilian authorities order arrest of top officials over capital riots

Lula's inauguration on January 1 was "an extremely successful security operation" but on January 2 "Anderson Torres took over as Secretary of Security, dismissed the entire command and travelled

India's tryst with parliamentary democracy

At a time when Parliament is about to be relocated to a new building, 'House of the People' offers an insightful look into the evolution of representative bodies in India and their functioning today

Democratic traditions must be respected: PM Modi on Brazil protests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed deep concerns over reports of rioting in Brazil by supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro and asserted democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. The supporters of far-right leader Bolsonaro who refuse to accept his election defeat stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and presidential palace in the Brazilian capital on Sunday, a week after the inauguration of his leftist rival, President Luiz In cio Lula da Silva. Modi tweeted, "Deeply concerned about the news of rioting and vandalism against the State institutions in Brasilia. Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. We extend our full support to the Brazilian authorities.

In democracy if you make one person god, it becomes autocracy: Kharge

Targeting the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said in a democracy if one person is made a god, it will not be democracy, but will become an autocracy. He called on all sections of the society, especially SC/ST and other weaker sections to unite for safeguarding the Constitution and democracy. The veteran leader further while pointing at Modi projecting his Gujarati identity while seeking votes during Gujarat polls, urged people to vote for the Congress during upcoming elections in Karnataka, while highlighting that he too is son of the soil here and asked people support him, his party and its leaders. "For every thing Modi, in a democracy if you make one person a god, it is not democracy it is autocracy, it will lead to dictatorship. Think about it. You have to know your rights and you should fight to get it," Kharge said. He was addressing the "Aikyata Samavesh", a large convention of SC/ST communities organised by ...

If journalism falters, democracy will collapse: Justice Srikrishna

Former Supreme Court judge B N Srikrishna has called for preserving the independence of journalists to ensure smooth functioning of democracy in the country. If journalism as a profession falters, democracy will collapse, Justice Srikrishna said Friday night after presenting the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism, instituted by the Mumbai Press Club. Speak the truth to the powers that be," he said. "Two professions have to be necessarily independent, a judge and a journalist. If they falter, democracy collapses, he added. Justice Srikrishna said a journalist who loses his independence is as bad as a judge who has lost his independence. Remember, you are in a profession where honesty is really the best policy, said the noted jurist, who headed the Srikrishna Commission that investigated causes and apportioned blame for the Mumbai riots of 199293. We all know about the four pillars of democracy: judiciary, legislature executive and the press or the fourth estate. If the firs

Reinventing social democracy

There is a growing disenchantment with liberal democracies. In 'A World of Insecurity', Economist Pranab Bardhan situates its root cause in the economic and cultural insecurity of people

India is world's largest democracy, home to great diversity of faiths: US

India is the world's largest democracy and home to a great diversity of faiths, the US said on Tuesday

Best of BS Opinion: Fixing gas prices, Delhi's pollution crisis, and more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today: