India slipping by 10 places in the Economist’s Intelligence Unit’s 2019 Democracy Index’s global ranking is a commentary on recent decisions taken by the Modi government that are being viewed as violative of human rights in the world’s largest democracy.
Citing “erosion of civil liberties” as the primary cause for the downtrend, the report expressed concern over the “discriminatory Citizenship (Amendment Act” , the Jammu and Kashmir situation and the controversial National Register of Citizens. India has been termed a “flawed democracy” and has been given a score of 6.9 out of 10, the lowest since the Index was launched in 2006. Worldwide, too, democracy is in retreat, the report pointed out, with the global score of 5.44 out of 10 the lowest recorded.
The annual survey rates the state of democracy in 167 countries based on five parameters ~ electoral process and pluralism, the functioning of government, political participation, democratic political culture and civil liberties. Surveys such as these are increasingly showing India in a negative light, as veering away from its stated principles of pluralism and secularism to be replaced by majoritarian and divisive tendencies.
The situation in Kashmir is a case in point where nearly six months after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that accorded J&K special status, a communication lockdown continues. Internet has been restored only partially; there is a complete ban on social media, scores of political leaders, including three former chief ministers, are still in detention.
As for the recent protests over the CAA and NRC, the government’s response has been heavyhanded, with the police storming Jamia Milia Islamia and attacking students in the library, shutting down internet, although briefly, even in the national capital. In Uttar Pradesh, more than 20 protesters were killed, many it is believed in police firing.
Houses of alleged vandals were ransacked and women and children terrorised. Peaceful protesters were jailed and ill-treated. Even the media was not spared. The indiscriminate use of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code to deter any form of agitation is another instance of intolerance that has drawn even the apex court’s attention.
There is no attempt to counter apprehensions about the National Register of Citizens, especially given the Assam experience, where over 19 lakh people were left out of the NRC and are currently in a state of limbo. Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent assertion that come what may, the government will not consider a relook at CAA only reiterates the government’s obduracy on the issue.
Indian Muslims live in genuine fear of being disenfranchised, given the near impossibility of producing requisite documents to prove citizenship, especially among the poor and marginalised. It is the government’s duty to allay this apprehension. The only way forward is dialogue but that seems to be very far from the minds of the powers that be. Questions about India’s democratic credentials are no surprise given these circumstances.