11/10/2026
Democracy Under Pressure: The Voice of the People Must Be Heard
By Mushtaq Bala
This past week has brought into sharp focus some of the most important questions confronting Indian democracy: the credibility of elections, the freedom to protest, the responsibility of institutions and the widening distance between public expectations and political action.
From the streets of New Delhi to the political debates surrounding Jammu and Kashmir, the message is unmistakable. Democracy is not sustained by elections alone. It survives through public trust, institutional independence, accountability and the freedom of citizens to question those in power.
The developments in the national capital deserve particular attention. Opposition parties intensified their protests over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and demanded accountability from the Election Commission. The INDIA bloc delegation, which included Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, also met President Droupadi Murmu on October 9 and submitted a memorandum raising concerns over the electoral process. These are allegations that require examination through evidence and due process, not conclusions reached through political rhetoric alone.
The fundamental question is simple: can every eligible citizen trust that their vote will be counted, their name will remain on the electoral roll unless lawfully removed, and their democratic rights will be protected without discrimination?
The Election Commission of India carries an enormous constitutional responsibility. Its credibility must be protected not merely through official statements, but through transparency, reasoned explanations and a willingness to address legitimate questions. Equally, political parties must substantiate their allegations with evidence and respect the established legal process. Electoral integrity is too important to become a casualty of partisan confrontation.
The right to protest is not a threat to democracy
The events of October 10 added another troubling dimension to the debate. Restrictions on public transport, preventive action against protesters and the reported detention of lawyers drew scrutiny from the Supreme Court and the legal fraternity. The Chief Justice of India intervened after concerns were raised over the detention of advocates, while the Supreme Court’s directions stressed that metro and railway services should not be completely prohibited and could instead be regulated appropriately. On Sunday, the Court ordered the lifting of restrictions on Delhi Metro services and sought the Centre’s response.
Security arrangements are undoubtedly necessary when large gatherings take place. No responsible society can dismiss the challenges faced by law-enforcement agencies. But security cannot become a blanket justification for restrictions that unnecessarily inconvenience ordinary citizens or undermine constitutional freedoms.
A peaceful protest is not an act of hostility against the nation. It is a democratic instrument through which citizens express disagreement and demand accountability. When demonstrations are proposed, the authorities must balance public order with the right to assemble and express dissent. The objective should be to facilitate peaceful expression while preventing violence, not to make dissent impossible.
The Constitution draws its strength from this balance. A confident democracy does not fear questions; it answers them.
Jammu and Kashmir: Beyond political promises
For Jammu and Kashmir, these developments carry a special significance. The people of this region have lived through decades of political uncertainty, institutional change and difficult questions about representation and democratic rights. Consequently, debates over electoral credibility, constitutional protections and the freedom to dissent resonate deeply here.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s participation in the INDIA bloc delegation has once again placed Jammu and Kashmir within the wider national debate over electoral accountability. His earlier questions about delimitation and its political consequences also underline the continuing dispute over representation in the Union Territory. Yet political allegations, however serious, must ultimately be tested against facts, evidence and constitutional principles.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir need more than political exchanges in Delhi. They need tangible progress on the issues that directly affect their lives.
The restoration of statehood remains a major public expectation. Employment, investment, reliable public services and a responsive administration are equally urgent. The elected government must continue to press for the region’s legitimate aspirations, while the Union Government must recognise that democratic stability is strengthened when commitments are translated into action.
Statehood should not remain an indefinite promise passed from one political season to another. A clear, credible path forward would help rebuild public confidence and strengthen the relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and the country’s democratic institutions.
Young people cannot live on promises
One of the most consequential figures emerging from Jammu and Kashmir’s recent Assembly discussions concerns recruitment. Reports indicate that the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission and the Services Selection Board collected approximately ₹114 crore in application fees over three financial years, while the number of advertised vacancies declined in 2025–26 compared with the preceding year.
These figures deserve a serious public discussion.
Behind every application fee is a young person carrying hopes of employment, independence and a secure future. Many families spend their savings on education, coaching, travel and examination preparations. When recruitment opportunities remain limited or selection processes are delayed, the consequences extend far beyond statistics.
The government must explain recruitment priorities, publish transparent vacancy calendars, ensure timely examinations and selections, and strengthen accountability wherever delays occur. Examination fees should be reasonable, and recruitment systems must inspire confidence rather than uncertainty.
Jammu and Kashmir’s youth are not asking for favours. They are asking for fair opportunities to compete on merit.
Their aspirations must not be reduced to speeches, announcements or promises made during election campaigns. Employment is not merely an economic issue; it is central to dignity, social stability and the future of an entire generation.
Governance must be measured by delivery
Democracy also demands that governments be judged by what they deliver. Policies and announcements matter, but their real value lies in their implementation.
Whether the issue is employment, infrastructure, education, healthcare, tourism or industrial development, citizens deserve measurable outcomes. Public representatives must be willing to explain delays, acknowledge shortcomings and correct mistakes.
The same principle applies to the institutions of governance. Transparency in decision-making, timely responses to public grievances and respect for established procedures are not administrative luxuries. They are essential obligations.
Jammu and Kashmir needs a governance culture in which citizens do not have to struggle endlessly to obtain routine services, young entrepreneurs are supported, local businesses receive fair opportunities and public institutions function without unnecessary barriers.
The test of governance is not how frequently a government announces a scheme. It is whether an ordinary citizen can feel the difference.
A week that reminds us of our responsibilities
The past week has also reminded us that democratic institutions are most effective when they perform their respective roles independently and responsibly. The legislature must scrutinise the executive, the judiciary must uphold the Constitution, the Election Commission must safeguard electoral integrity, and the media must inform the public without fear or favour.
No institution should be above scrutiny. Equally, no institution should be condemned without evidence.
This is where the role of an independent press becomes particularly important. Journalism must distinguish between allegation and established fact, between political claims and verifiable evidence, and between public interest and partisan interest.
The media must question those in power, but it must also hold opposition parties accountable for their claims. It must report uncomfortable facts without allowing political affiliations, personal preferences or pressure to determine its editorial judgment.
For Kashmir, where public trust in institutions remains an especially important issue, responsible journalism is not simply a professional obligation. It is a public service.
The way forward
As we enter another week, the country needs less confrontation and more constitutional clarity. The Election Commission must address credible concerns transparently. Political parties must pursue their demands through peaceful and lawful means. The authorities must protect public order without unnecessarily curtailing fundamental freedoms. The judiciary must continue to ensure that constitutional safeguards remain meaningful in practice.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the priorities are equally clear: a credible path to statehood, greater employment opportunities, accountable administration and a political environment in which public aspirations are treated with seriousness.
Democracy cannot be reduced to a contest over who commands the loudest voice. Its real strength lies in whether the weakest voice can also be heard.
The measure of a mature nation is not whether disagreement exists, but how it responds to disagreement. The measure of a responsive government is not whether it faces criticism, but whether it learns from it. And the measure of a free society is not the absence of protest, but the assurance that citizens can raise their voices without fear.
The voice of the people is not an obstacle to governance. It is the very reason governance exists.
Mushtaq Bala is Editor-in-Chief of Kashmir Pen.
