Re: Is India a model Democracy?

[Liberty Institute <liberty@giasdl01.vsnl.net.in>]

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I would tend to agree with Vamsi, that "Freedom of Expression" is the
cornerstone of a functioning democracy. It is this freedom that enables
democratic pluralism to try and persuade each other to their point of view.
That is what makes it possible for today's minority opinion to become the
majority opinion of tomorrow. We often overlook the fact that democracy is
not primarily a system of majority rule. In my mind the fundamental
characteristics of democracy is to enable minority opinions to be heard.
Majority cannot be used to silence a minority without degenerating in to
mob rule, and that would signal the end of democracy. Without freedom of
expression, democracy will be meaningless.

Sushma Swaraj's statement is typical of most political leaders in India.
Unfortunately, they are not the only ones with a vested interest. Many
newspaper barons in India, particularly the older houses like the Times of
India, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, etc. have come out against opening the
print media to foreign investment and competition.

This may be another topic for discussion on IPI. The nature of government
regulation and restrictions on the media, print and electronic, and their
effect and implications.

Regards,

Barun

At 04:49 AM 12/31/00 -0800, you wrote:
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>Please help make the Manifesto better, or accept it, and propagate it!
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>
>I think not!!  It seems that I have been wrong on this issue.  I
>consider freedom of communications to be central to any powerful
>democracy in the world.  Here is a disappointing comment made by Sushma
>Swaraj:
>__________
>"It was a revolutionary step to open up FM radio to private
>players.....But it will only be for entertainment. News and current
>affairs will continue to remain with AIR,"
>__________


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