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Letters | India remains a thriving democracy, despite detractors’ warning
- Readers discuss why criticism of the Modi government rings hollow, how to make better use of Hong Kong’s wealth of traffic accident data, and public vigilance against online fraud
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In the letter “Hold India to account for democratic decay” (May 6), your correspondent says the “current government’s assault on such democratic institutions as the media, judiciary and civil society is a cause for grave concern”.
India has the noisiest democracy in the world, where the press and media freely and openly criticise every politician, including the prime minister.
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The judiciary is so independent that, at times, some people are concerned that it is overstepping its boundaries. Take for example the court hearings on same-sex marriage.
In other countries, such laws are framed by an elected parliament. Many members of parliament – both from the ruling party and the opposition – are either against same-sex marriage or did not see it as a priority issue, yet the Supreme Court, ignoring the executive, has decided to hear petitions related to the issue. This is just one example where the judiciary has overstepped its boundaries.
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Siddique Kappan was arrested along with three others with links to a now-banned political group accused of involvement in terrorism. Anyone caught with suspected terrorists would be considered a suspect – this is common all over the world. The courts heard his case repeatedly and finally granted him bail after two years but has not absolved him of all charges.
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