Opinion | As India Goes Out To Vote, What Is At Stake For Indian Democracy?

An FIR has been lodged against senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Maria Alam Khan under Sections 188 and 295A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the Kayamganj Police Station, Fatehgarh district. The FIR alleges that the leaders made an appeal for “vote jihad”, terming it as necessary in the current situation for the minority community to drive away the BJP government. Maria Alam Khan, during an election rally, urged for “vote jihad”, stating that it is essential for the minority community to act in unison against the ruling party.

Prime Minister Modi, in response to the aforementioned incident, condemned the call for “vote jihad” as “an insult to democracy and constitution”. He expressed shock at the remark made by Maria Alam, emphasising that such rhetoric is particularly concerning coming from an individual from an educated Muslim family.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had earlier launched an attack on the Congress, citing a video of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wherein he allegedly stated that minorities should receive priority in the allocation of the nation’s resources. This further fuelled the ongoing discourse surrounding religious favouritism and political polarisation.

As India goes out to vote in the ongoing election, similar events have sparked intense debates about the essence of parliamentary democracy and the principles it embodies. These incidents, in particular, have brought to light the complexities surrounding identity politics, religious rhetoric, and the role of leadership in a democratic society.

While democracy is founded on the principles of equality, secularism, and meritocracy, the reality often strays from these ideals. Instead, we see instances of identity-based politics, religious appeals, and polarisation, which threaten the integrity of the democratic process.

At the heart of parliamentary democracy lies the principle of electing leaders based on merit, irrespective of religious or communal affiliations. The essence of democracy is to empower citizens to make informed choices, free from divisive rhetoric and partisan agendas. It is about selecting representatives who will uphold the values of inclusivity, justice, and accountability.

As the nation heads into elections, it is imperative for voters to critically evaluate candidates based on their qualifications, track record, and commitment to democratic principles. Blind allegiance and identity-based voting only serve to perpetuate divisions and hinder the progress of the nation.

Moreover, it is imperative to recognize the intricate workings of parliamentary democracy, wherein the power to govern is decentralised and vested in elected representatives at the local level. Unlike in other forms of governance, such as presidential systems, where voters directly elect the head of state, parliamentary democracy operates on a more nuanced mechanism. Here, voters elect local leaders, who, in turn, play a pivotal role in the formation of the government and the selection of the Prime Minister.

This aspect of parliamentary democracy often goes unnoticed or underappreciated, yet it is the very essence of democratic governance. The power to shape the course of the nation is vested in the hands of ordinary citizens at the grassroots level, highlighting the significance of each vote cast. By electing representatives who embody the values and aspirations of their constituents, citizens actively participate in shaping the direction of their nation’s governance.

The essence of parliamentary democracy lies not merely in the act of voting but in the responsibility of citizens to engage in a thoughtful and deliberative process of selecting their leaders. By embracing this principle and holding their elected representatives accountable, citizens uphold the fundamental tenets of democracy and ensure that governance remains rooted in the collective will of the people.

PM Modi’s recent remarks on Manmohan Singh’s 2006 speech have ignited a firestorm of controversy. He alleged that Singh hinted at the Congress’ intention to prioritise wealth redistribution among Muslims, suggesting they would have the “first right to India’s resources”. Modi’s statement extended to the redistribution of assets among “intruders” and individuals with multiple children. This sequence of topics, transitioning from discussions on Muslims to illegal immigrants and then to individuals with numerous children, raised eyebrows and deepened concerns over communal tensions.

While some observers interpret PM Modi’s comments as a calculated political statement, strategically positioning the BJP against the opposition, others see them as contributing to a divisive narrative that risks exacerbating communal divides. Seen through the lens of political strategy, Modi’s controversial speech could be construed as an attempt to address concerns about low voter turnout.

The appointments of Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as Election Commissioners have also raised concerns about transparency and independence. Under the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, a committee including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from the Indian National Congress, selected the commissioners. Critics argue that the inclusion of political figures in the selection process undermines impartiality, highlighting the importance of safeguarding India’s electoral institutions’ integrity and independence.

On the other hand, the opposition has failed to reinvent itself for the nth time. Even though the ruling party has tried to play up its development model and the opposition has also discussed economic agendas, but the 2024 Lok Sabha elections seem to be broadly about Hindu sensibilities versus Muslim appeasement. The opposition has failed to acknowledge the problem of Muslim appeasement infesting it for decades, and hence, finds itself disconnected from the masses. Apart from the famous examples of entire state machinery bending over backwards to accommodate Muslim sensibilities at the time of Shah Bano, Digvijay Singh attending the inauguration of Aziz Burney’s book blaming the 26/11 on the RSS or the extremely bizarre communal violence bill, 2013 or Manmohan Singh’s statement about minorities having first right on resources, there has been a very visible undertone of Muslim appeasement by the Congress for decades.

Appeasement is not just reservations and subsidies, sometimes statements like the one by Rahul Gandhi saying, “Muslim League is a completely secular organisation, there is nothing non-secular about it”, also denote a political party’s convictions. The Congress also had to come clean of its anti-Hindu image that had been conveyed to the masses, but once again, the party top brass seemed uninterested. When Udhayanidhi Stalin gave a heinous remark about eradicating the Sanatana Dharma, the Congress, being its ally, should have come out strongly against it.

Perhaps it is too late now for the opposition to register all of this and do course-correction, but it should understand that a lot of average Indians, whom they have discarded as communal bigots, could have been their potential voter. Ideally, the election process in a healthy democracy should be free from communal rhetoric and the elections should be fought on the values of progress, development and nation-building; however, one cannot expect the majority of Hindu voters to only vote on the agendas of development and completely gloss over the politics of appeasement going on in the country for decades.

It is this spirit of democracy that is at stake in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The duty of a leader, in a democracy, is public outreach and engagement. It is not just preaching to the converted, but also to those who are not yet convinced. Intellectual elitism and saviour-messiah complexes have cost the opposition the last two elections but it has still failed to understand that it now cannot complain about politicians appealing to Hindu sensibilities without acknowledging the problem of Muslim appeasement in the last so many decades.

The writer takes special interest in history, culture and geopolitics. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.