Modi govt trampling pillars of democracy: Congress

Congress, supporting NDTV said the entire country was now strongly opposing this "death-knell" imposed on the channel

New Delhi, Nov 6: Congress on Sunday accused the Modi government of trampling the three pillars of democracy - executive, judiciary and media, and said there was no place for dissent in it as it dubs as "anti-nationals" all those showing it the mirror of truth.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the attitude of the Modi government does not match with India's pluralist character and the freedom of expression of an individual and that is why it was imposing ban on the media.

The Congress also stood out in support of NDTV, on which a day-long ban has been imposed over coverage of the Pathankot terror attack, and said the entire country was now strongly opposing this "death-knell" imposed on the channel.

"The Modi government is trampling upon the three pillars of democracy - the executive, the judiciary and the media. Criticism or dissent is not acceptable to this Modi government which is gripped with the disease of self-praise and wants media to toe its line.

"Whenever someone shows it the mirror of truth, this government wears the mask of nationalism and dubs those showing it the mirror as anti-nationals. The attitude of Modi government does not match with the pluralist thought and freedom of expression of an individual," he said.

In a statement, Surjewala said the entire intellectual class and journalists were now standing out against this ban which was a bid to throttle the independent voice and anyone who raised their voice against the Modi government.

The Congress leader said that doubts were now being raised over the patriotism of those who had questioned the Modi government for allowing Pakistan's ISI to enter the Pathankot air base in the name of investigations into the terror attack.

"We have to awaken the Modi government which is in deep slumber due to intoxication of power," he said.

PTI