Dolly Kushwaha

Indian Army Veteran. Ex- RBI officer. Traveloholic. RT's not endorsement.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

In defense of Indian 🇮🇳 democracy!

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi most successful visit to Norway a minor incident happened. A Norwegian journalist demanded that the prime minister starts holding press conferences. She claimed that Indian democracy is in bad shape.

May be its time to pause? May be its time to be a bit curious to the world’s largest democracy?

Two weeks ago five Indian states and territories held elections. The turn out in the battlefield state of West Bengal was 94%. In the last local election in Norway it was 62%, in many European local elections turn out is below 50%. Can voting in massive numbers be a signal Indians trust their democratic process?

In the same election BJP won big in Assam and West Bengal. It lost even bigger in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Can this diversity be a signal that Indian democracy is reflecting the will of the people?

The journalist referred to a democracy ranking putting India at 157 in the world, behind many dictatorships and deeply troubled states. When a ranking is so obviously contrary to common sense, why not ask critical questions to those making the ranking rather than demand that leaders shall comment on nonsense? I recommend Salvatore Babones book “Dharma democracy”. The book debunks convincingly the flawed methodology of these rankings.

It was referred to a ranking claiming it’s very dangerous to be a journalist in India. Reality is that it is more dangerous to be journalist in the US and far more dangerous in the vast majority of other nations in the world.

Let’s be real. India is not perfect. Of course there are incidents. India has a population the size of North America, South America and Europe combined. But India is much more peaceful than Europe or the Americas. That’s remarkable - given the ethnic, language and religious diversity of India and the many development challenges.

Unless we consider democracy a form of government only suited for some very small, peaceful and homogeneous Western European nations, may be we should commend Indian democracy?

India is the only major former UK colony which became and has remained a democracy. Its sometimes claimed that the Brits taught India democracy. If that was the case why isn’t Myanmar or Pakistan or the Gulf kingdoms democracies??? Reality is that Indian democracy is both homegrown and extraordinary successful.

[Sonal Kalra 🇮🇳 @sonalkalra]

Why confuse pride in our national identity with ideology? Aapka kya kehna hai is baare mein?

[Dolly Kushwaha @Capt_Dolly]

@LegalTalwar Well, they do have ego but their scorn is more potent. That’s why “Hell hath no fury …”😬😬

[Basavaraj S Bommai @BSBommai]

I appeal to all the students, teachers and management of schools and colleges as well as people of karnataka to maintain peace and harmony. I have ordered closure of all high schools and colleges for next three days. All concerned are requested to cooperate.

[Bharti Jain @bhartijainTOI]

Central Media Accreditation Guidelines 2022 put out by PIB: Accreditation may be suspended/withdrawn if journalist is charged with serious cognisable offence; acts in manner prejudicial to sovereignty & integrity of India, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, etc

[Dolly Kushwaha @Capt_Dolly]

@Sanju_Verma_ @narendramodi By “excuse for a journalist” I meant Sardesai and my point is that India is truly safe as far as minorities are concerned which is why the girl walked her ground so boldly.

[Dolly Kushwaha @Capt_Dolly]

@Sanju_Verma_ @narendramodi The girl in video has more confidence in the system than this excuse for a journalist. She walks her ground straight and responds boldly because she knew she is safe in the environment.

[Aditya Raj Kaul @AdityaRajKaul]

#BREAKING: India summons Ambassador of South Korea after Hyundai Pakistan uses propaganda posters against India on Kashmir backing Pakistan sponsored terrorism. Indian mission in Seoul also took it up with South Korean Govt. Tough message conveyed to South Korean Govt.

[LawBeat @LawBeatInd]

#Karnataka High Court to hear case of Resham Farooq, filed through her brother seeking relief on account of alleged denial by the Government PU college for 8 girl students allegedly on account of wearing Hijab before a bench of Justice Krishna Dixit #KarnatakaHijabRow

[Minhaz Merchant @MinhazMerchant]

Well before the Indian economy grows from $3 trillion in FY22 to $8 trillion in FY30, as international investment banks have projected, no global company will dare do a ⁦⁦⁦@Hyundai_Global⁩ or ⁦@kfc⁩

[Dolly Kushwaha @Capt_Dolly]

@vivekagnihotri Don’t worry, this movie will do very well. Kashmir has been a huge part of almost every fauji’s life story. Majority would be curious and that’s a huge number. All the best. And Congrats for #UrbanNaxals being a part of PM’s tirade today😀

[Dolly Kushwaha @Capt_Dolly]

@NAN_DINI_ Went back again last year. Saw lot of positive changes in terms of cleanliness and infra but was disappointed by the Ganga Arti. Earlier it was just pujaries chanting the prayer. It was divine.Hope @narendramodi ji and @myogiadityanath pay attn to it.☺️

[Dolly Kushwaha @Capt_Dolly]

@NAN_DINI_ What a wonderful blog. I first visited Kashi in 2016 with lots of apprehensions regarding crowd and cleanliness. But once there, nothing mattered as if taken by some surreal force. Fell in love forever with Kashi.

[P C Mohan @PCMohanMP]

India completes arch of world’s highest railway bridge over #RiverChenab in #JammuAndKashmir.

#ChenabBridge

[Dolly Kushwaha @Capt_Dolly]

In lighter vein -

PM basically sang 🎼🎼 Agar tum na hote 🎼🎼 to Congress, today in Rajyasabh.

😁😁

[Dolly Kushwaha @Capt_Dolly]

@divya_16_ 😁😁 we need to work too.

[Dolly Kushwaha @Capt_Dolly]

@SushantBSinha He is slaying it like a Boss. With facts and figures. And quoting such examples, that even opposition can’t contradict. Hallmark of a leader who has risen through ranks.

[Dolly Kushwaha @Capt_Dolly]

I swear, reading first 2 lines, I thought finally she has interviewed a Kashmiri Pandit refugee on #KashmirExodus day. But then… same old…same old😒

[barkha dutt @BDUTT]

“I grew up in a house without a roof, put up tents, sold firecrackers,know how to weave the ropes of this manja we are sitting on”- @CHARANJITCHANNI on the campaign trail with @themojostory on many things political but also his PHD on the Congress party ! https://t.co/ip0DfqEStX

[Dolly Kushwaha @Capt_Dolly]

@NAN_DINI_ @iAakash_Agarwal Happy Birthday Ma’am. More power to you.🎉🎉🎊🎂

[Dolly Kushwaha @Capt_Dolly]

@iam_manishk @andysanghvi @iMac_too Many such around.