The rule of the Narendra Modi-led government has witnessed the erosion of the ground rules on which the Indian democratic system has rested since Independence, Shashi Tharoor, MP, has said.

He was speaking while delivering a public lecture on ‘Indian Politics at Crossroads’ on the concluding day of the 4th annual session of the KeralaHistory Congress on the Karyavattam campus of Kerala University on Saturday.

He accused the BJP-led government of having departed from the very essence of the freedom movement through measures, which, Mr. Tharoor said, were fundamentally ‘un-Indian’.

Apparent signs

Mr. Tharoor said the issues of governance and a systematic erosion of democratic principles had started to become apparent in the country. The autonomy and integrity of democratic institutions that guaranteed the survival of the Indian democracy had come under the scanner.

“For the first time ever, the impartiality of the democratic institutions including the Supreme Court, Central Bureau of Investigation, Central Information Commission and the Election Commission of India is being questioned,” he said.

He added that the country had also witnessed during the current BJP government’s rule, the greatest centralisation of powers in the Prime Minister’s Office in the history of modern India with the sole exception of the 22 months of the Emergency.

“The need for collective Cabinet responsibility has been thrown into question because in many cases, decisions are taken by the Prime Minister alone and there is no indication that the Cabinet Minister concerned is in the loop, the most notorious example being the demonetisation. The Parliamentary system has also been tossed aside,” Mr. Tharoor added.

Corruption

Responding to a question, Mr. Tharoor said corruption had eaten into the Indian political scenario right from the electoral process and was being carried on to governance. Sadly, none of the parties were exempt.

Kerala History Congress general secretary N. Gopakumaran Nair presided over the function.

A book, Pattum Parivattavum, authored by Prathap Kizhakkemadom, was released on the occasion.