It’s about democracy, not Rahul

Published : Apr 11, 2023 13:36 IST - 1 MIN READ

Congress party activists during a protest against the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha, in Kolkata on March 25.

Congress party activists during a protest against the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha, in Kolkata on March 25. | Photo Credit: Swapan Mahapatra/PTI

“All political theories concerning tyranny agree that it belongs strictly among the egalitarian forms of government; the tyrant is the ruler who rules as one against all, and the “all” he oppresses are all equal, namely equally powerless.” — Hannah Arendt

Dear Reader,

The recent controversy surrounding the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi offers telling lessons for all students of politics. The most important of which is this: the disqualification issue is not about Rahul, it’s about democracy.

Why is the present moment in one sense more dangerous than 1975?

What is the “third wave of autocratisation” happening across the world?

How can democracy be destroyed by using a legal facade?

Has the past decade seen a slow-burn erosion of democracy?

These are the questions Nissim Mannathukkaren answers in his powerful essay in this fortnight’s issue of Frontline. Read it to understand how democracy can work and how it can be derailed. Democratically.

Here’s wishing you a meaningful read and a great week,

Team Frontline

We hope you’ve been enjoying our newsletters featuring a selection of articles that we believe will be of interest to a cross-section of our readers. Tell us if you like what you read. And also, what you don’t like! Mail us at frontline@thehindu.co.in

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