Page 2 - Democracy

No democracy without freedom of expression: Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed the government's strong commitment to supporting all efforts that promote and uphold freedom of expression and free media. He was addressing an event organised by the Islamabad Journalist Safety Forum on the theme of the UN ten years Plan of Action, according to an official statement. The Prime Minister said his government believes that the freedom of expression is sacrosanct and will remain at the heart of the development of democracy. Shehbaz noted democracy and media reinforce each other and that there can be no democracy without freedom of expression and his government would be part of efforts aimed at making Pakistani democracy stronger through greater free media. He pointed out that Pakistan became the first country in Asia to pass legislation on the 'Safety of Journalists' at the federal and the provincial level in Sindh province and offered support for the ongoing efforts in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochis

Denting democracy

India is heading for judicial authoritarianism as the system of checks and balances has gone askew

BJP wants to run democracy with help of police, says Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday accused the BJP of threatening opposition parties and said it wants to run a democracy with the help of the police. Yadav, who was in Indergarh here to meet and extend his condolences to the family members of former minister Vijay Bahadur Pal, also alleged that more than required police personnel were deployed for the Rampur Sadar bypoll. "The BJP wants to run democracy through the police. You will run democracy with the help of the police and threaten opposition parties. People have to stand up for the strength of democracy," he told reporters when asked about Monday's bypolls to the Mainpuri Lok Sabha and Rampur Sadar and Khatauli assembly seats. The Rampur Sadar by-election, necessitated following the disqualification of senior SP leader Azam Khan after his conviction in a 2019 hate speech case, recorded a poor turnout 34 per cent. The SP has alleged that police threatened, harassed and stopped voters from exercising their

We don't need to be told what to do on democracy: India's envoy at UN

India does not need to be told what to do on democracy, the country's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, who assumed Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of December, said here on Thursday. India on Thursday assumed Presidency of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the month of December, during which it will host signature events on countering terrorism and reformed multilateralism. The Presidency will bring the curtains down on India's two-year tenure as elected non-permanent member of the powerful UN organ. Kamboj, India's first woman Permanent Representative to the UN, will sit in the President's seat at the horse-shoe table. On the first day of India's presidency, she addressed reporters in the UN headquarters on the monthly programme of work. Responding to a question on democracy and freedom of press in India, she said "to that I would like to say that, we don't need to be told what to do on democracy. "India is perhaps the most anci

Constitutional values are facing serious threat in the country: Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said constitutional values like secularism, democracy and federalism are facing serious challenges in the country and hurdles are being created in realising the true federal concept of complacent states, a strong Centre and dynamic local self-governments. The fundamental democratic principle that the state governments, elected by the people of the respective states, should play an equal role with the central government in the development of the country is being forgotten, he said in his Constitution Day message. Since 2015, November 26 is observed as Constitution Day to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly in 1949. Earlier, the day was observed as Law Day. "India's Constitution, which encompasses the ideals of our anti-imperialist struggle, is facing a wide array of challenges on this 73rd anniversary of its adoption. It's time to join the fight to fend off such threats and defend its ...

Inclusive development essential of democracy: Lok Sabha Speaker Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday said inclusive development is essential for a democracy and it can be achieved through discussion, dialogue and deliberation. Addressing the 21st World Congress of Accountants in Mumbai, Birla described chartered accountants as "saints of the new economic order". They are the engines and architects of the economic world, he said. Talking about development and democracy, Birla said,"The foundation principle of democracy is inclusive development and it can be done through discussion, dialogue and deliberation." Birla called upon chartered accountants to further strengthen democracy with their efficiency and functioning, and by playing an active role in ensuring inclusive development. He said chartered accountants have an important role as agents of economic change and in establishing a prosperous economic system. This because, now the whole world is one and whatever crisis comes in the world-- social or economic -- they affect all countries, the

Rahul says only Cong can protect Constitution, attacks Centre on note-ban

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) keeps attacking the Constitution everyday as it does not want to accept that Dalits, tribals and the poor should get rights, and hit out at Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar for "working" for the British. Gandhi, whose Bharat Jodo Yatra entered its 69th day and reached Washim district in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra from Hingoli on Tuesday, said it is only the Congress that can protect the Constitution, give education to tribals and safeguard their land and rights. The Lok Sabha MP from Kerala addressed two rallies during the day and stepped up his attack on the BJP over a range of issues - from the Constitution, to 2016 note-ban, to Goods and Service Tax (GST) to farm loans. The first public meeting, addressed by him in the afternoon, was organised on the occasion of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda's birth anniversary, which is also celebrated as the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas or Tribal Pride Day. T

World's biggest democracies sound warning on Twitter blue checks

From India to Brazil and the US, officials are warning of a proliferation in fake accounts, with some saying the new system in which a blue check mark can be bought for $7.99 a month is ripe for abuse

'PM undermining basis of constituency-based parliamentary democracy'

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "undermining" the basis of a constituency-based parliamentary democracy and claimed that a presidential form of government which the RSS wants to usher will entrench "majoritarianism". His attack came over Modi's remarks at a poll rally in Himachal Pradesh's Solan where he exhorted people to support the "lotus" (BJP's election symbol), saying their votes to it will be their "blessings" to him and that they should keep in mind not the candidates but "kamal ka phool". "Hon'ble PM said that the voters need not remember the name of the candidate in the constituency. Hon'ble PM also said 'vote for the lotus, it is a vote for Modi'," Chidambaram said. "Having shunned Parliamentary debates and press conferences, the Hon'ble PM is now undermining the very basis of a constituency-based Parliamentary democracy," the former Union minister alleged on Twitter. "We know that the RSS and its bhakts have nursed

His outlook towards democracy inspiring: PM on death of India's first voter

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the death of India's first voter Shyam Saran Negi, who died aged 106 at his residence in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur on Saturday morning. Two days ago, Negi had cast his vote for the state's Assembly polls through postal ballot, the Election Commission said earlier in the day. Addressing a poll rally here in Mandi district for the November 12 assembly polls in the hill state, Modi said, "When I started from Delhi in the morning, I got to know about the death of Shyam Saran Negi. The 106-year-old had voted more than 30 times in his life." "Just a few days ago, Negi had cast his vote through postal ballot for the Himachal Pradesh polls. Even before his demise, he discharged his duty," Modi said, adding Negi's outlook towards democracy will inspire the country's youth. "With a heavy heart, I bow my head to pay homage and express my deepest condolences to his kin," the prime minister said. In the morning, Chief Minister Jai Ram Th

Best of BS Opinion: Rs 40k-crore challenge, a sporting proposition & more

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

Best of BS Opinion: A non-hyphenated democracy, development by HAL & more

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

The case for a non-hyphenated democracy

Labelling all conservatives fascist is no tribute to democratic values

India doesn't believe quality of democracy decided by others: Jaishankar

India does not believe that the efficacy or the quality of democracy should be decided by others, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday, observing that each country approaches democracy, human rights, and good governance from their history, tradition, and societal context. We spoke over the last two days of our commitment to practicing and furthering democracy, human rights, and good governance," Jaishankar told reporters during a joint news conference with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Each country approaches the issues from its history, tradition, and societal context, Jaishankar said. Our yardstick for judgment are the integrity of the democratic processes, the respect and credibility that they command with the people, and the nondiscriminatory delivery of public goods and services. India does not believe that the efficacy or, indeed, the quality of democracy should be decided by (others), he said. As the world's two biggest democracies, we're also .

Democracy holds India together as country and economy: BS Panel

For the next 25 years, the panellists picked equitable wealth distribution as the biggest issue to be addressed

Outsiders registering as J-K voters last nail in coffin of democracy: PDP

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said she has asked National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah to convene an all-party meeting of Jammu and Kashmir to decide the future course of action with regard to election commission allowing outsiders to register as voters in the Union Territory. According to Chief Electoral Officer Hirdesh Kumar, Jammu and Kashmir is likely to get around 25 lakh additional voters, including outsiders, after the special summary revision of electoral rolls being held for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370. "I have requested Farooq sahib, being the seniormost leader, to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the new developments for adopting a unified course of action to deal with it," Mufti told reporters. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president said she has asked the NC president to invite even those parties with which "we have differences". She said the move of the election authorities to allow outsiders residing ordinarily

Legislation barring parties from offering freebies not advisable: SC

Court protests media leak of Election Commission's affidavit in the matter

Rebel MLAs taking oath is murder of democracy, Constitution: Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena claimed administering ministerial oath to rebels MLAs, whose disqualification pleas are pending before the Supreme Court, amounted to murder of democracy and the Constitution

Strengthening liberal democracy essential for growth, says Raghuram Rajan

Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan on Saturday said India's future lies in strengthening liberal democracy and its institutions as it is essential for achieving economic growth

Oppn obstructs development, prefer political interests over nation: PM Modi

The prime minister said when the country's democracy was crushed during the Emergency, all major parties came together to save the Constitution.