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India's republic descends into authoritarianism at 75
Seventy-five years after independence, parliamentary democracy no longer retains the vitality of earlier decades, writes PRAKASH KARAT
INTIMIDATION: Indian paramilitaries barricade a protest march by parliamentarians from the opposition Congress Party in New Delhi, last week

TILL recently, when commemorating the significant anniversaries of independence, we could cite the parliamentary democratic system as one of the major achievements of independent India.

The adoption of a republican constitution in 1950 provided the scope for people’s participation and a voice in politics which reflected the aspirations of the Indian people in their struggle for national independence.

Despite the narrow basis and the class constraints on the democratic system in a developing capitalist society, it was creditable how parliamentary democracy could retain its vitality for over six decades.

FULL-FLEDGED AUTHORITARIANISM

AMBEDKAR ON POLITICAL DEMOCRACY

NEOLIBERALISM RESTRICTS DEMOCRACY

HINDUTVA-CORPORATE ALLIANCE

FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY

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