Are we to be guided by beliefs of cultural and civilizational ties or with a conscience for democracy?
Maybe, it is a tough call for us to pick and put as our perspectives on rights and duties are largely associated with political conservatism around the world. Though these political conservatives acknowledge democracy, they are up against maintaining any principled equidistance from religion and community. In the words of Rajeev Bhargava, an eminent Political Scientist in the West, secularism denotes absolute absentation from the day to day activities of the church and state irrespective of one’s faith and practice.
But, in India, the situation is quite opposite.
The state regards every faith but interferes when the said religious actions are in direct contrast to individual rights and duties. As for the ascendancy of the right-wing in India, religion has but become the tool and task to impress upon believing what otherwise a policy and governance couldn’t have guaranteed at the first place.
This elaborates and elucidates the sharp rise of leaders like Putin, Erdogan and Modi in Russia, Turkey and India responding and reacting to this constituency in no time. Thus, their legitimacy is intact come whatsoever as they are, to a large extent, able to dispel queries and quarrels. Additionally, the opposition in these countries has almost become redundant or irrelevant unable to correct its acts living in defiance.
A democratic movement may then do when it resonates with the basic aims and aspirations of the people. I am to understand that the opposition has mustered the courage but it is too little and late. Amendments to their blueprints with a visible strategy and set up may do it for them.