Listen to this article:

It’s delightful to see prime minister Narendra Modi’s encouragement for those who fight for protecting democracy and constitutional principles. Modi hasn’t thrown his weight behind sycophants and collaborators who are complicit in the sinister project of trampling constitutional democracy. “Aapatkal ka virodh karne wali sabhi vibhutiyon ko sadar naman,” Modi said in his message on June 25, the anniversary of the Emergency, unambiguously instigating citizens to oppose each and every curbs imposed by the government on democratic freedoms.

Modi insisted that the disturbing memory of Emergency “motivates us to remain committed for protection of democracy, Constitution and civic rights.” If any section of bureaucrats, judges or journalists nurtured doubts about the prime minister’s intent, they need to rethink. It is yet again absolutely clear that the politicians, activists and journalists fearlessly working to protect constitutional values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity are precious and true patriots. Those who seek to crush these values, and the sycophants who rejoice subversion of the constitutional scheme, are the real traitors.

Ironically, the prime minister’s lofty rhetoric has come at a time when the world is worrying about diminishing democracy in India and the leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi is talking about ‘Resistance Movement” to save the Constitution from the threats posed by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and its progeny, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing opposition leaders a few days ago, Gandhi said, “The BJP controls the institutions of the state. The BJP controls the legal system. The BJP controls the bureaucracy. The BJP controls the intelligence agencies. The BJP even controls the Election Commission. I have many friends in the TMC (Trinamool Congress). They were convinced that they were sweeping the election. I kept telling them: you are in dream land. I have seen what happens – I have seen it in Gujarat, I have seen it in Madhya Pradesh, I have seen it in Chhattisgarh, I have seen it in Haryana and Maharashtra.”

The leader of opposition argued that a few instruments of the state that still worked would stop working soon because the BJP and RSS were tightening their grip.

“If political parties can’t........

© The Wire