A report card on the performance of the Narendra Modi government, prepared by a group of academics and civil society organisations under the banner of ‘Wada Na Todo Abhiyan’, expressed concerns at the Centre’s slow response in addressing inequality and attacks on democracy. Titled ‘Promises and Reality 2019-2023: Citizen Review of 4+ years of NDA II Government’, the report invited the attention of the government to these issues so that there is inclusive dialogue to build a just and inclusive nation.
On the status of democracy, the report said hurried passage of Bills without debate, limited engagement of parliamentary committees, reduced sitting days, limited budgetary deliberations, restricted access to data for Members of Parliament and the growing presence of elected representatives with criminal records are matters of concern. It said the media is struggling to stay up, in light of increased capital investment from those with business-oriented interests, rising communalism, diminishing space to critique the establishment, and rising attacks on journalists and media organisations not towing “the line”. It said students, activists, academics, journalists, artists, actors, comedians, fact-checkers, publishers, and a range of other citizens have been charged under draconian laws for exercising their fundamental freedoms.
