As India celebrated its 77th Independence Day, the observance of Constitution Day on November 26 carried added weight. For the first time since the BJP\u2019s 2014 electoral sweep, the opposition Congress, crossed the 100-seat mark in the Lok Sabha, meeting the 10% threshold required to formally become the main opposition and its leader as the leader of the opposition of union cabinet rank. This milestone signals a rare instance of balance in a political landscape increasingly characterized by centralization of power. Yet, the day was not without controversy. In a Parliament session, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of undermining the Constitution, only to have his microphone abruptly turned off mid-speech. This moment highlighted the growing concerns about censorship and the perceived stifling of dissent under the current government. The BJP government\u2019s emphasis on Hindutva ideology has amplified fears of marginalization among religious and caste minorities, particularly Muslims, who often feel relegated to second-class citizenship. Equally troubling is the targeting of opposition leaders, frequently subjected to investigations and raids by agencies like the ED, CBI, and NIA-a pattern that ceases abruptly if these individuals align with the BJP. Meanwhile, corporate cronies accused of financial improprieties are routinely insulated from legal scrutiny, deepening perceptions of selective accountability. In opposition ruled states, governors who are supposed to be custodians and protectors of the constitution, have instead acted like political agents of the BJP government at the Centre and clashes between the parties ruled by non-NDA parties and the governors are not rare. States like West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Delhi have endured governance deadlocks and constitutional crises as governors allegedly overstep their roles. The situation in Manipur exemplifies a severe breakdown of constitutional principles. Since May 3, 2023, under BJP Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, the state has descended into lawlessness marked by ethnic violence, attacks on Christians, and unchecked mob rule. The central government\u2019s apparent disengagement from these crises further undermines confidence in its commitment to constitutional governance. These issues underscore the urgent need to uphold and protect the Constitution. While political parties often succumb to the temptations of power, safeguarding constitutional values requires a vigilant citizenry, an independent judiciary, and a robust Election Commission of India (ECI).The judiciary remains a cornerstone of democracy, tasked with shielding the Constitution from overreach and ensuring the unbiased application of laws. Similarly, the ECI must function autonomously, enforcing the Model Code of Conduct impartially and curbing electoral malpractices. Restoring the earlier method of appointing election commissioners\u2014via a panel including the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Chief Justice of India\u2014would strengthen the institution\u2019s credibility. India\u2019s democracy, the largest in the world, faces formidable challenges from communalism, the misuse of power, and authoritarian tendencies. Upholding constitutional values cannot be reduced to ceremonial observance or hollow rhetoric. Instead, it must manifest in governance marked by fairness, public accountability, and institutional integrity. For India to remain a beacon of democracy, collective efforts from citizens, institutions, and leaders are essential. Only by addressing these systemic issues can the nation ensure that the principles enshrined in its Constitution endure and thrive in both letter and spirit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As India celebrated its 77th Independence Day, the observance of Constitution Day on November 26 carried added weight. For the first time since the BJP\u2019s 2014 electoral sweep, the opposition Congress, crossed the 100-seat mark in the Lok Sabha, meeting the 10% threshold required to formally become the main opposition and its leader as the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[685],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-459450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-editorial"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/459450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=459450"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/459450\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=459450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=459450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=459450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}