Shashi Tharoor warns of ‘an India where people are scared to speak on phone’, says BJP feels it has ‘place in your bedroom’

He alleged that the autonomous institutions created to protect democracy – “from the Information Commission to the Election Commission, judiciary, free press, RBI” – all had their autonomy “hollowed out”.

Written by Pavneet Singh Chadha

Verna | Updated: May 3, 2024 11:10 AM IST

2 min read

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said in Goa that the BJP government at the Centre posed a fundamental danger to the “idea of India” enshrined in the Constitution.

At a corner meeting in South Goa’s Verna, Tharoor said, “Our democracy is definitely under threat. When you vote on May 7, one of the great questions you have to ask yourself is…What kind of India do you want to live in? What kind of India do you want your children to grow up in? Do you want an India that is fearful? Where people are scared to say things on the phone because they don’t know who in the government is listening, where people are afraid to express their views openly because of consequences?”

“…Or do you want, instead, an India where people are free to express their views, free to eat what they want, to dress as they wish, to love whom they like, or are you prepared to accept a government that feels it has a place in your bedroom, in your kitchen, in your safe, in your dining room? Because that’s the kind of government we have in India today,” he said.

He appealed to the people to vote for Captain Viriato Fernandes, Congress’s Lok Sabha candidate from South Goa.

“When the BJP talks about ‘ab ki baar 400 paar’, we ask why? The only argument for having such a large majority is to be able to amend the Constitution…We are hearing a party devoted not to the idea of everyone’s equality, but to the slogan of ‘Hindi, Hindutva, Hindustan’ – a monolithic idea of India. They want one nation, one election, one party, one leader, one religion, one God. They want everything to be one, and of course, for there to be one ruler to control all of this,” he said.

Pavneet Singh Chadha

Pavneet Singh Chadha is the Goa Correspondent of The Indian Express. His reporting focuses intensely on the state of Goa, covering major developments in politics, governance, and significant local events, which establishes his high degree of Expertise and Authority in the region. Expertise Geographic Expertise: As the Goa correspondent, Pavneet provides on-the-ground, comprehensive coverage of Goa's political, social, and cultural landscape, ensuring readers receive timely and localized insights. Key Coverage Focus: His recent work demonstrates deep investigative capabilities and a focus on high-impact stories, including: Investigative Reporting: Extensive coverage of complex events such as major incidents (e.g., the Goa nightclub fire), tracing the legal, political, and safety lapses involved. Government and Law Enforcement: Detailed tracking of police actions, deportations, and legal proceedings related to significant local cases. Policy and Governance: Reporting on the judiciary (e.g., Goa High Court flagging illegal structures) and the actions of government departments. He tweets @pub_neat ... Read More

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