“A declaration issued at the Democracy Convention 2024 said that India is witnessing alarming trends from stifling of dissent to encroachment on individual rights”
NEW DELHI: In a resounding display of unity and concern, nearly 60 intellectuals, comprising academics, former military and air force officers, and journalists, have expressed deep distress at the erosion of democratic values in India. Their collective voice reverberated through a comprehensive report detailing the multitude of challenges faced by the nation.
In a declaration issued at the end of the Democracy Convention 2024, they said that India has witnessed alarming trends including rising unemployment, particularly among youth and women, disturbing attacks on minorities – notably Muslims, stifling of dissent and freedom of expression, encroachment on individual rights under the guise of a uniform civil code, and a concerning tolerance towards rape and sexual harassment.
“Autonomous bodies such as the Election Commission have become blatantly partisan, as the open rigging of ballots in the Chandigarh mayoral election shows. Independent watchdogs such as the media, civil organizations such as universities, NGOs and think tanks, are under sustained pressure,” the participants noted.
They said that the misuse of constitutional and statutory institutions such as the CBI and ED to target opposition politicians has further exacerbated the situation.
The declaration stated that the erosion of democratic institutions has extended to media, civil organizations, and universities, which face sustained pressure.
India has slipped down on Democracy Index ranking in the world. Photo/Open SourceParliamentary debate has been stifled, and the people’s right to information and consultation has been marginalized. Opposition-ruled states find themselves economically marginalized, raising concerns about the federal structure of the country.
The participants urged democratic opposition parties to collaborate in safeguarding constitutional rights and combating the erosion of democratic values. They commend efforts such as the Bharat Jodo and Nyaya Yatras by the Congress, the defense of federal rights by the DMK, inter-faith dialogues by the Trinamool Congress, and persistent programs by the AAP despite ministerial arrests.
The conference has produced a list of proposals aimed at addressing these issues comprehensively. These proposals include seeking a review of legislation facilitating arrest on mere suspicion, reviving the autonomy of institutions like the Election Commission and CBI, promoting equality and social justice, and prioritizing employment with a social safety net.
Additionally, the intellectuals advocated for legal guarantees of minimum support prices for farmers, protection against discrimination, and the reinforcement of anti-corruption measures. They also call for measures to protect marginalized communities, strengthen social security nets, and ensure universal access to healthcare.
The declaration underscores the urgent need for action and pledges to continue the initiative through the formation of citizens’ groups and democracy conventions in various cities.
The declaration urged for deputing a fact-finding mission composed of parliamentarians and civil society representatives to propose peace-building mechanisms in the legislature and to the Manipur administration, such as a halt to violence, initiation of dialogue, and control over the proliferation of arms and ammunition. It also opposed the fencing of the border with Myanmar, which is locally unpopular.
It also sought to review all changes in textbooks and curricula introduced over the past decade and remove anything introduced that is not supported by evidence or argument.
Those who have signed the declaration included Wajahat Habibullah, Githa Hariharan, Kapil Kak, Radha Kumar, Harsh Mander, Rita Manchanda, Hannan Mollah, Deb Mukharji, Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, M.K. Raina, Shastri Ramachandran, Sujatha Rao and others.
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