Democracy Dies in Broad Daylight
In July and days before the abrogation of Article 370 and even before Government lying to the public of an imminent terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims, eminent journalist TJS George wrote an article predicting the fall of Indian Democracy. He opposed the RTI amendment bill and the hugely controversial UAPA Amendment Bill, which carries the provision of placing the onus on the individual to prove his/her innocence.
Days after the article was published and as predicted by TGS, “Be ready to be smashed.” The central government de-operationalized the special rights given to the people of Jammu & Kashmir by what they say “abrogation” of Article 370 and Article 35A. The narrative was about integrating Kashmir to the rest of India by making available all laws and policies in the country applicable to J&K as well. They even went to the extent of bifurcating a state in two Union-Territories thereby giving great powers to the selected Lieutenant Governors of J&K and Ladakh. While J&K got the right to elections by giving them an assembly, Ladakh was not provided the luxury. It’s been more than six months since the “abrogation” and the only people who seem to be happy with the decision is the government and those residing in other parts of the country.
If curbing the rights of seven million Kashmir’s weren’t enough by suspending communication services and discontinuing public transportation, the Central Government went onto introducing and passing the hugely contentious Citizenship Amendment Act, which fast-tracked the citizenship namely to Buddhist, Hindus, Sikhs, Parsi, Christians, and Jains of those belonging to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. There was a huge protest against the bill and the students of Jamia Millia Islamia went about their college neighborhoods explaining to the locals about the unconstitutionality of the law and how it discriminates against the minority Muslims.
A protest march turned violent with buses being set on fire and stones pelted on Delhi Police, the police without waiting for the approval of the college authorities barged inside the college campus and initiated brutal beating of college students and also threw tear gas inside the library. Hundreds of students were injured and admitted to hospitals. It prompted the citizen community of Delhi to come out to Delhi Police Headquarters in large numbers to protest against police brutality on students.
The government was telling her own citizens that dissent in any form will not be allowed while they are in power. The attack on students had an immediate effect on the student communities across the nation. They gathered together in their respective college shouting the slogans of “Azadi”. Most of them were inspired by the courage of young women of Jamia Millia Islamia.
Uttar Pradesh suddenly saw many anti-CAA protests and the police opened fire killing at least 20 of the alleged rioters. The government which couldn’t save innocent children who died in a government-run hospital due to lack of oxygen was proactive against the protestors. The government recently went to the extent of publishing the photos of protestors making them susceptible to lynching. The newspaper which stands for humanity condemns the act of the UP government. There is no Rule of Law that allows public display of the accused. It only shows the disrespect the ruling party has against those who dissent their ideology.
The Delhi Violence was the biggest example of how a police force that gets direct instructions from the home ministry was complacent and in some cases complicit by joining the violent mob to pelt stones against the minority crowd. A mosque was vandalized and a flag placed atop showing the arrogance and impunity the violent mob received from those in power.
The government is set to introduce the Uniform Civil Code and National Population Control Bill in the next sessions to come. It would be disastrous to Indian Democracy if they implement the bill without taking into consideration the fears and anxiety of the Muslim community in India. The fact that all the undemocratic moves by the Narendra Modi government come from the temple of democracy, our Parliament is something to be pondered upon.