Fear of Government Turns Democracy Into Authoritarianism: DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said democracy turns into authoritarianism when people fear the government and stressed the need to protect democratic values by ensuring equal dignity and opportunity for all.

Addressing an event here to mark World Democracy Day, Shivakumar said democracy was not confined to elections and voting but encompassed people's rights, dignity and participation in governance.

"If people are afraid of the government, it becomes authoritarianism. When the government respects its people, it becomes democracy," he said.

Further, in addition to the five existing guarantee schemes, such as free bus travel for women, the government was also considering a sixth, the "land guarantee," Shivakumar said.

Shivakumar said India had a long democratic tradition, recalling the 12th-century Anubhava Mantapa and its emphasis on equality and participation. He said he had visited the historic institution at Basavakalyan within three days of becoming chief minister.

"Democracy is not just the right to vote; it is the right to live with dignity," he said.

The CM said voting was a right while strengthening democracy was a collective responsibility, and stressed the need to give young people opportunities to enter public life from the panchayat level to Parliament.

Recalling his own experiences in school and college elections, Shivakumar said he had faced attempts to block his political participation, but continued to support and nurture other leaders.

"A leader is one who creates leaders, not followers," he said, advocating disciplined elections in colleges and greater opportunities for emerging leaders.

"People like me and (deputy CM) Parameshwara are not the owners of this system. Power belongs to you. Even though I am the chief minister today, ultimately I am a public servant," Shivakumar said.

He said the Congress, the political party to which he belongs, had played a key role in India's freedom struggle, Constitution-making and establishment of democratic institutions.

"Congress' strength is the country's strength. Congress' history is the country's history. If the Congress comes to power, it means all sections of society have come to power," he said.

Referring to the "sacrifices" of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Shivakumar said their contributions could not be erased from the country's history. He also recalled Rajiv Gandhi's 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments as an important step in strengthening grassroots democracy.

On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Shivakumar said there was a possibility of around one crore voters losing their voting rights, while around 47 lakh people had now been given an opportunity to reclaim their rights.

He said the state government had decided to provide residential and income certificates to eligible people to help them protect and exercise their voting rights.

"Nobody should lose their vote. No matter how big or influential a person is, nobody should lose the right to vote. It does not matter which political party a person supports," he said.

Briefly referring to the Congress' grand success in 2023 Assembly elections, Shivakumar took a swipe at the BJP, which ruled the state from 2019 to 2023.

"There was once a double-engine government (BJP) here. There were many plans and dreams. But all of you gave us 136 seats and brought us to power," he said.

Stating that he did not wish to discuss what could happen in the future, Shivakumar said people are educated, intelligent and aware, and they will judge what justice they had received at different times.

Linking democracy with social and economic empowerment, Shivakumar said his government had introduced the five guarantees and decided to directly provide around Rs 52,000 crore through them.

He said the government was also considering a "sixth guarantee -- a land guarantee" and was working to provide property rights to eligible beneficiaries and distribute sites to around 10 to 15 lakh poor people over the next three years. The government was also working to provide agricultural land for cultivation and ensure that the benefits of development reached all sections.

Shivakumar said the government was committed to protecting the rights of oppressed communities and ensuring equal dignity and opportunity.

"We are committed to protecting democracy. My appeal to all of you is that we must take every section of society along with us," he said.

He also called for preserving India's cultural heritage and said around 10,000 Bharat Jodo Yuva Sanghas were being established under the leadership of deputy CM Parameshwara to nurture leadership and democratic values among young people.

Earlier, Parameshwara said political democracy could not survive without social democracy and stressed for free and fair elections, human rights, press freedom, people's participation, accountability and transparency.

He said India's democratic foundations had survived numerous challenges over 80 years and warned that Dalits, backward communities and minorities would be among the first to suffer if democracy weakened.

Parameshwara also emphasised the need to prepare Gen Z for democratic participation through initiatives such as Youth Parliaments.