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Operation Sindoor: When Indian missiles rained on Pak terror parade

<div class='ite_mg_banner ads__container'><div class='it_mg_bnrBox'><div class='ite_bnr_cont'><div class='ite_cont_dtl'> <h4>Subscribe to India Today Print + Digital. Your First Month Is On Us. <span class='bold_text'> ₹299/month</span> thereafter. Cancel anytime.</h4><a href='https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscriptions.intoday.in%2Findiatoday%3Futm_source%3Dtop-web-banner ' class='ite_subscribe_btn origin_conscent_url' target='_blank'>SUBSCRIBE</a></div></div></div></div>

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<div class="itg-mosimage"><amp-img src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Fmedia2%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstories%2F2012october%2Fdhiraj-nayyar_102012074256.jpg" alt="" height="425" width="650" class="" layout="responsive"></amp-img>Dhiraj Nayyar<p>It is a common fallacy to equate democracy and elections. Our politicians do it all the time. Of course, periodic elections are a necessary condition for democracy. They are not sufficient. Accountability cannot, and should not, be confined to a once-in-five-year time frame. Government must be held accountable for every decision it makes on each day of its term in office. In theory, this is what Parliament is supposed to do.<br><br>In practice, its record is rather dismal. That is in part the nature of a Westminster-style system of government where the government of the day always has a majority in Parliament and the ruling coalition has a majority on almost every parliamentary committee, including the investigative joint parliamentary committees. The system is built to protect rather than expose the government.<br><br>At any rate, democracy is too precious to be left exclusively to politicians. From time to time, the people of India, whether through civil society or media, must ask tough questions and demand accountability from their rulers. Whatever you might think of Arvind Kejriwal as a politician, he has done a great service to democracy by asking difficult questions to people in power. The questions have rattled the powerful.<br><br></p><div class="itg-mosimage"><amp-img src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Fmedia2%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstories%2F2012october%2Fdemocracy_102012074256.jpg" alt="" height="425" width="650" class="" layout="responsive"></amp-img>From time to time, the people of India, whether through civil society or media, must ask tough questions and demand accountability from their rulers. </div></p><p>Robert Vadra indicted his own by calling India a Banana Republic, a term usually used to describe a country with undemocratic rulers and rampant crony capitalism. Salman Khurshid did worse when he said he would not take questions from "people on the street", the very people who elected him to the powerful office he occupies. If the Congress and its leaders are irritated with the litany of allegations they face from Kejriwal and civil society, they have only themselves to blame.<br><br>UPA has run a rampantly corrupt, and an incredibly incompetent, Government. In the circumstances, even frivolous allegations stick. Then, UPA has run roughshod over every institution within the system of government that is charged with enforcing accountability. It made a mockery of its chief anti-corruption body, the Central Vigilance Commission, by appointing a tainted candidate for the top job. The Government denigrated its own auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General, and accused the constitutional body of producing motivated reports. Its main investigating agency, CBI, has no independence. Even the supposedly independent Public Accounts Committee of Parliament was reduced by UPA to a partisan farce over 2G. Those agitated by corruption had no forum left in the 'system' which could discipline an errant UPA. That gave Kejriwal an opening. He is exploiting it.<br><br>Public agitation over corruption and misgovernance cannot be just wished away. The power of communications technology, as the Arab Spring showed, is fatal for despotic regimes. The same technology can be lethal for democratic regimes which turn unresponsive to their citizens. India is finally demanding a 24/7 democracy.<br><br>That is, of course, bad news for politicians who like to operate opaquely behind closed doors. It is worse for politicians who think that it is enough to campaign in the run-up to elections and then disappear to foreign lands to recuperate from the exertion. And it is terrible news for those politicians who have seceded from the "people on the street" lulled into a false sense of exclusiveness in their Lutyens' Delhi bungalows and red-light Ambassadors. India is engaged. It is for politicians to respond, sensibly.<br></p><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">AtMigration </div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Oct 20, 2012</div></div></div><div class="sendros">--- ENDS ---</div></div></div>

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Dhiraj Nayyar

<div class="itg-mosimage"><div class="itgimage"><img  title="Dhiraj Nayyar"  class="" alt="Dhiraj Nayyar" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Fmedia2%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstories%2F2012october%2Fdhiraj-nayyar_102012074256.jpg" loading="lazy" /></div>Dhiraj Nayyar<p>It is a common fallacy to equate democracy and elections. Our politicians do it all the time. Of course, periodic elections are a necessary condition for democracy. They are not sufficient. Accountability cannot, and should not, be confined to a once-in-five-year time frame. Government must be held accountable for every decision it makes on each day of its term in office. In theory, this is what Parliament is supposed to do.<br><br>In practice, its record is rather dismal. That is in part the nature of a Westminster-style system of government where the government of the day always has a majority in Parliament and the ruling coalition has a majority on almost every parliamentary committee, including the investigative joint parliamentary committees. The system is built to protect rather than expose the government.<br><br>At any rate, democracy is too precious to be left exclusively to politicians. From time to time, the people of India, whether through civil society or media, must ask tough questions and demand accountability from their rulers. Whatever you might think of Arvind Kejriwal as a politician, he has done a great service to democracy by asking difficult questions to people in power. The questions have rattled the powerful.<br><br></p><div class="itg-mosimage"><div class="itgimage"><img  title="From time to time, the people of India, whether through civil society or media, must ask tough questions and demand accountability from their rulers. "  class="" alt="From time to time, the people of India, whether through civil society or media, must ask tough questions and demand accountability from their rulers. " src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Fmedia2%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstories%2F2012october%2Fdemocracy_102012074256.jpg" loading="lazy" /></div>From time to time, the people of India, whether through civil society or media, must ask tough questions and demand accountability from their rulers. </div></p><p>Robert Vadra indicted his own by calling India a Banana Republic, a term usually used to describe a country with undemocratic rulers and rampant crony capitalism. Salman Khurshid did worse when he said he would not take questions from "people on the street", the very people who elected him to the powerful office he occupies. If the Congress and its leaders are irritated with the litany of allegations they face from Kejriwal and civil society, they have only themselves to blame.<br><br>UPA has run a rampantly corrupt, and an incredibly incompetent, Government. In the circumstances, even frivolous allegations stick. Then, UPA has run roughshod over every institution within the system of government that is charged with enforcing accountability. It made a mockery of its chief anti-corruption body, the Central Vigilance Commission, by appointing a tainted candidate for the top job. The Government denigrated its own auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General, and accused the constitutional body of producing motivated reports. Its main investigating agency, CBI, has no independence. Even the supposedly independent Public Accounts Committee of Parliament was reduced by UPA to a partisan farce over 2G. Those agitated by corruption had no forum left in the 'system' which could discipline an errant UPA. That gave Kejriwal an opening. He is exploiting it.<br><br>Public agitation over corruption and misgovernance cannot be just wished away. The power of communications technology, as the Arab Spring showed, is fatal for despotic regimes. The same technology can be lethal for democratic regimes which turn unresponsive to their citizens. India is finally demanding a 24/7 democracy.<br><br>That is, of course, bad news for politicians who like to operate opaquely behind closed doors. It is worse for politicians who think that it is enough to campaign in the run-up to elections and then disappear to foreign lands to recuperate from the exertion. And it is terrible news for those politicians who have seceded from the "people on the street" lulled into a false sense of exclusiveness in their Lutyens' Delhi bungalows and red-light Ambassadors. India is engaged. It is for politicians to respond, sensibly.<br></p><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">AtMigration </div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Oct 20, 2012</div></div></div><div class="sendros">--- ENDS ---</div></div></div>

The power of communications technology, as the Arab spring showed, is fatal for despotic regimes. The same technology can be lethal for democratic regimes which turn unresponsive to their citizens.<br />

India Today

From time to time, the people of India, whether through civil society or media, must ask tough questions and demand accountability from their rulers. 

Democracy 24/7 - India Today

'At any rate, democracy is too precious to be left exclusively to politicians'

Democracy 24/7

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, Trump took a characteristically blunt yet curious swipe at Macron, referring to the French leader’s much-discussed sunglasses. Here is what he said...

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At Davos, a session moderated by India Today Group Vice-Chairperson and Executive Editor-in-Chief Kalli Purie brought together leading economist Gita Gopinath, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Bharti Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, and IKEA Group CEO Juvencio Maeztu Herrera to decode India’s journey towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.

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The European Parliament has suspended work on an EU–US trade deal after Donald Trump renewed tariff threats and remarks on Greenland.


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EU Parliament halts work on US trade deal after Trump's Greenland remarks at Davos

IND vs NZ, 1st T20I: Suryakumar Yadav showed signs of returning to form, becoming the third-fastest Indian to 9,000 T20 runs with a fluent 32 off 22 balls against New Zealand on Wednesday in Nagpur.

Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav shows signs of form, becomes 3rd fastest Indian to 9000 T20 runs

Prince Harry rejected claims that journalists were close to his social circle and said the articles in question involved unlawful information gathering, including voicemail hacking and deception, which he described as a “horrible experience” and “commercialising” his private life.

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United States President Donald Trump, who addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, said that he loves Europe, but it's not heading in the right direction.

I love Europe, but it's not heading in right direction: Trump at Davos

In this Special Report, we focus on the retirement of veteran NASA astronaut Sunita Williams after an illustrious 27-year career. Speaking in New Delhi, Williams described her visit to India as a 'homecoming', reflecting on her deep personal ties to the country where her father was born. During an interactive session, she shared profound life lessons from her time aboard the International Space Station, noting, 'Every person I know is there. Every animal, every plant, everything we know is there, and we're all on this one planet.' Williams, who completed three missions and set multiple human spaceflight records, emphasized how viewing Earth from orbit changes one's perception of global differences. The retired astronaut also met with the family of late fellow astronaut Kalpana Chawla during her stay in the national capital. The programme highlights her historic contributions to space exploration and her reflections on humanity's shared home.

Sunita Williams: Being In India Is Homecoming

Sunita Williams retires from Nasa after 27 years, calls India visit a 'homecoming'

This report highlights a major embarrassment for Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, who inaugurated an unauthorised Pizza Hut outlet in his constituency of Sialkot.

Khwaja Asif Inaugurates Fake Pizza Hut

Khawaja Asif faces ridicule after inaugurating fake Pizza Hut outlet in Sialkot

In this India Today special report, anchor Aishwarya and correspondent Pranay Upadhyay discuss a security scare involving Donald Trump’s aircraft. Air Force One was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews shortly after take-off due to a technical snag in the electrical unit. Pranay Upadhyay noted, 'The security team of President Donald Trump did not want to take any chance with the President's aircraft,' leading to the decision to switch planes. Trump, who was en route to Davos, Switzerland, had to board a backup aircraft to continue his journey. The report highlights that the current VC-25A Boeing 747-200B has been in service since 1990 and is approximately 35 years old. While the aircraft is heavily modified and maintained, a new replacement is not expected until 2027. The return was described as a precautionary measure following the discovery of the minor electrical fault by the crew.

Donald Trumps Air Force One Scare: Technical Snag Forces Return

Donald Trump's Air Force One forced to return to base after technical snag

In an exclusive interview with India Today’s Bhavna Agarwal, actor Sophie Turner was joined by her co-star Archie Madekwe, who spoke about their love for India, RRR and more. 

Sophie Turner India Today Exclusive on India, RRR, Steal. Credit: Prime Video

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'At any rate, democracy is too precious to be left exclusively to politicians'

The power of communications technology, as the Arab spring showed, is fatal for despotic regimes. The same technology can be lethal for democratic regimes which turn unresponsive to their citizens.

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