Union Home Minister Amit Shah has repeatedly said that the Citizenship Amendment Act will not be withdrawn, “no matter who protest”
New Delhi: Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday highlighted the importance of dissent in a democracy and said the peaceful protests extending in the nation will rejuvenate democracy. ” Consensus is the lifeblood of democracy. Democracy is about listening deliberating, discussing, arguing, even dissenting. Complacency enables authoritarian tendencies to gain ground,” media quoted him while he addressed.
Pranab Mukherjee did not mention the controversial citizenship law or the National Register of Citizens against which a huge section of students and civil society are up in arms, he said it was “heartening” to see the youngsters assert faith in the Constitution.
While address at a function in the national capital, “Citizen Mukherjee” as the former President has dubbed himself, he said, “Indian democracy has been tested time and again,”.
“From the past few months, people have witnessed and come out on the roads in huge numbers, specifically the young, to voice out their opinions on issues which are important,” media quoted in his address. “Their assertion and belief in India’s constitution are specifically heartening to see,” Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee’s words come amid the criticism the government has been facing following the police crackdown on the agitating students of Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia. The opposition parties have accused the government of ignoring students, who are the country’s future and taking a hard line with them.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has repeatedly said that the Citizenship Amendment Act will not be withdrawn, “no matter who protest”.
Former president,83, who handed the country’s highest post to President Ram Nath Kovind in July 2017, has never shied away from making his opinion known on controversial issues.
Many a time during his presidency, he had drawn the country’s attention to the rising instances of violence. He also highlighted the need to respect the core values of the nation and the democratic institutions. He gave more importance in the debate on free speech and nationalism and expressed reservations when an ordinance or executive order was brought to him four times.
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