In a passionate address delivered at a corner meeting in Verna, South Goa, Congress stalwart Shashi Tharoor sounded a clarion call against what he perceives as a looming threat to India’s cherished democratic principles under the BJP-led government at the Centre. Tharoor’s remarks struck a chord as he articulated concerns about the very essence of the “idea of India” enshrined in its Constitution.
Drawing attention to the palpable erosion of democratic norms, Tharoor underscored the significance of the impending elections, urging voters to reflect deeply on the India they envision for themselves and future generations. His speech resonated with a sense of urgency as he lamented the prevailing atmosphere of fear and self-censorship, where individuals feel compelled to tread cautiously in expressing their views, lest they incur reprisals.
With a keen eye on the systemic dismantling of autonomy in key democratic institutions, Tharoor painted a stark picture of the encroachment on institutions such as the Information Commission, Election Commission, judiciary, free press, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). These institutions, once bastions of democratic accountability, now stand hollowed out, according to Tharoor.
In an impassioned plea to the electorate, Tharoor threw his weight behind Captain Viriato Fernandes, Congress’s candidate for the crucial South Goa Lok Sabha seat. He rallied against the BJP’s rallying cry of “ab ki baar 400 paar,” cautioning against the underlying agenda that seeks to exploit a massive majority to usher in constitutional amendments.
Tharoor’s most pointed critique lay in the BJP’s purported vision of a homogenized India, where diversity and dissent are stifled in favor of a monolithic identity centered around Hindi, Hindutva, and a singular religious ideology. He warned against the perils of a nation steered by a single party, a single leader, and a singular narrative, portraying a dystopian future where individual liberties are sacrificed at the altar of conformity.
In capturing the essence of Tharoor’s impassioned oratory, one cannot escape the gravity of his message: the impending elections represent not just a political choice, but a defining moment in India’s democratic journey, where the very soul of the nation hangs in the balance.
