Stressing nationalism to be everyone's first commitment, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday was highly shocked by developments of foreign interventions in India's democratic process of elections. The Vice President said the perpetrators needed to be unraveled and identified to expose how they conspired against the democracy of the country.
Referring to remarks by past US President Donald Trump, where he alleged there were attempts at manipulating India's democratic system, Dhankhar said that "there was a deliberate attempt at influencing our poll process and mar its sanctity.".
He quoted the US administration's reports that held the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) accountable for spending millions of dollars in an effort to influence voter participation in India. "The reality cannot be denied—the money was given, and it was considerable," he added.
Dhankhar called upon Chanakya Niti, emphasizing that such conspiracies must be eliminated and the conspirators exposed who permitted an external agency to target India's democratic ethos. "It is the responsibility of every Indian to prevent any organization that seeks to tamper with the sanctity of our electoral process," he maintained.
Emphasizing the vision of Viksit Bharat or Developed India, he stressed that peace and stability were the essential requirements for the growth of a nation, be it even the personal space of meditation.
The Vice President also praised the government of Narendra Modi for its welfare policies, such as universal access to toilets, gas connections, clean water, internet, healthcare, education, and road network. He attributed these policies for promoting societal welfare and mental peace. But he also mentioned that some people continue to criticize each effort. "No system is perfect, but identifying flaws is a step toward progress," he added.
Later, during the Valedictory Function of the 5th Rajya Sabha Internship Programme conducted at the Vice-President's Enclave, Dhankhar renewed his trust in India's democratic institutions, the Election Commission, and the Judiciary.
"Have faith in our institutions-they are strong," he continued. In a swipe at politicians who attribute their loss to the Election Commission, he added, "They are wrong only when you lose and correct when you win. What is that logic?"
His words reinforced the strength of India's democracy and the imperative of collective watchfulness to uphold its electoral integrity.
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