India’s changing role in the World | Interaction at the Chatham House Rahul Gandhi 3/7/2023 #rahulgandhi   https://youtu.be/Vtt_uJG1qPw?t=130

Proactive civil society vital for healthy democracy Neera  Chandhoke https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/proactive-civil-society-vital-for-healthy-democracy-485565/
G20 looks after an unequal monetary system that serves the interests of the global capital and political elite. It represents powerful interests, but disdains standing up for the powerless. Civil societies flourish in nations that cherish constitutional democracy. Even democratic govts have a tendency to augment power at the expense of people’s rights. This propensity has to be controlled by civil society.

Given that the state is a condensate of power, it is even more important that civil society protects the Constitution. In this context, the statement issued by people’s movements, trade unions and social associations on the eve of the meeting of the G20 foreign ministers in New Delhi is laudable. The statement points out that G20, which includes some of the most powerful governments in the world, fails to note the extent of poverty, ill-health and want in the Global South.

The Indian government, instead of banishing the poor and their hovels from public view to beautify cities, should use the forum to raise issues of injustice done to the disadvantaged people of the Global South.

There was a time when India led the Global South to challenge the agenda of powerful nations. Today, we are overexcited by the fact that it is India’s turn to take over a rotational presidency. The cost of the show that is planned to impress representatives of other countries is borne by those who, already wracked by want, have been deprived of shelter.

Former Civil Servants Write to PM Modi About ‘Climate of Fear Among Christians’ https://thewire.in/rights/constitutional-conduct-group-modi-christians
Noting the "increasing incidents of outright discrimination against Christians", the Constitutional Conduct Group said the Union government is doing little to protect religious minorities.

The open letter was signed by 93 former civil servants under the Constitutional Conduct Group, saying that though the principal allegation against the Christian community is of forcible conversion, its share in the position has remained more or less around 2.3% since the 1951 census. “It is an unfortunate but inescapable fact that there are elements amongst us who may feel that the denigration of others enhances themselves”.