The Democracy in India: Its Threats

India is the world’s largest democracy with a population of more than one billion. After independence India accepted the model of British parliament and adopted different concepts from different parts of the world. The Indian parliament consists of two houses –the Lok sabha and the Rajya sabha. In it the Lok Sabha consists of the direct representatives of the people whereas in the Rajya Sabha the representatives are from the states. Though the Lok Sabha is more powerful, the two houses work together. After each election, the political party which enjoy the majority forms the government. The parliament consists of different representatives from different political parties. If nobody is able to claim a single majority, the different parties join together to form a coalition government. Now the coalition government is leading India and the time has come for another election. Since it is the major democracy the whole world is curiously waiting for the election and the outcome.

Being an overpopulated country, India is facing many threats from different walks of life. The cast disparity is one of the major problems faced by the democracy. The Indian democracy gives freedom to all religions. The intolerance that is shown by some upper class people is making the lives of the lower class insecure. Most politicians come from the upper caste and they enjoy wealth and luxuries inherited from their ancestors. So the poor remain poor though it is happy to note that some changes are occurring in the system. This kind of internal strife along with the over population may affect the growth of the country. The religious secularism is to be maintained properly as it is violated mainly in North India. The violation of secularism may arise feeling of insecurity and terror among people. India is popular for its pluralism as against other major Asian countries in which the major religious communities dominate the power. Though this pluralism has helped to react against colonialism it is now becoming a threat.

The other major threats are poverty and massive illiteracy. The upper class the people belonging to the group of haves enjoy all the comforts and advantages. The poor and the slum dwellers which form the majority live unattended and deprived. They are the labourers, but they do not have much to live. Illiteracy is also connected with this aggressive poverty. Even though the country posses a good academic background, the major benefits are enjoyed by the upper class. The reservations and scholarships are the blessings of democracy though a little gets the benefit. The atrocities against women require special attention. Women suffer a lot not only at home but also at work. There is women representative at the parliament but it is not sufficient to put the barrier. Along with these the terrorism puts an added threat to the democracy. India is facing lots of terror attacks both from inside and outside the continent. A democratic country can come out from all sorts of threats if worked efficiently as a group for the country and for the people.

India is about to face the next election which will commence on April 16. The election has recently announced the dates and all the political parties are busy with making alliances to have a term in the parliament. The major political parties, the leading front-Congress and opposition front-BJP are thriving for another victory. Congress under Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is putting forward its achievements, on the other hand, BJP, under the leadership of L.K.Advani, is accusing the ruling front for the terrorist attacks and communalism. Regional parties from different states assemble behind them to face the coming verdict of the people. Whoever attains the majority has to face various threats from different fields.
The largest democratic country can eradicate all these threats and rule the world in the coming future. A democratic country can organize people if its values and pre-conditions are met properly. The elected members should shun their vested interests in order to attain all kinds of freedom- economic, religious, cultural and sexual. Corruption and superstitions are to be eradicated. The educated youth should come forward to take the leadership and they should be given sufficient opportunity to implement their views and concepts. The democracy, which has helped to go forward in bewildered diverse conditions, will surely help to face the ongoing threats and adversaries.