Present wave of peaceful protests will help deepen India’s democracy: Pranab Mukherjee

January 23: Former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said that the present wave of largely peaceful protests will once again help deepen India’s democratic roots. Though he did not specify the citizenship law in his address but hardly left anyone in doubt either. The ex-President’s remarks are seen in the context of protests that started after the ruling NDA coalition at the Centre pushed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) through Parliament last month.

Mukherjee was speaking at the first Sukumar Sen memorial lecture organised by the election commission. The lecture has been instituted in the memory of first Chief Election Commissioner of India, Sukumar Sen. Mukherjee said democracy thrives on listening, deliberating, discussing, arguing, and dissenting, according to a tweet from his handle. He said that Indian democracy has been tested again and again, and emphasised the importance of consensus, which he called the “lifeblood of democracy”.

"Indian Democracy has been tested time and again. Consensus is the lifeblood of Democracy.Democracy thrives on listening, deliberating, discussing, arguing and even dissent."
Delivered the first Sukumar Sen lecture instituted by the Election Commission of India. #CitizenMukherjee pic.twitter.com/ZXpWvR1q7H

— Pranab Mukherjee (@CitiznMukherjee) January 23, 2020

He said, “The last few months have witnessed people come out on the streets in large numbers, particularly the young to voice out their views on issues which in their opinion are important. Their (protesters’) assertion and belief in the Constitution is particularly heartening to see.”

“The Election Commission has served its purpose well and any attempt at its denigration will amount to denigrating the electoral process,” the Congress leader added. “People’s mandate is sacrosanct and its sanctity supreme. The onus of ensuring this lies with the Election Commission.”

The 83-year-old former president handed the country’s highest post to President Ram Nath Kovind in July 2017.