Delay in justice harms democratic system: Telangana Congress president Mahesh Goud

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud flagged what he called the systematic erosion of judicial independence in India.

He was speaking at a panel discussion, 'Longing for justice, continuous denial of bail and caging dissent', in Hyderabad.

The discussion saw actor Prakash Raj, MLC Kodandaram, APCR National Secretary Nadeem Khan, and activists Lalitha Ramdas and Ameer Aziz. The discussion was held against the backdrop of continuous denial of bail by courts and the political climate where the activists and political opponents are being targeted.

'Bail is the Rule, Jail is the Exception'

TPCC President and MLC Mahesh Kumar Goud emphasized that the delay in justice harms the democratic system. He accused the BJP-led central government of undermining the Constitution since 2014 and adopting authoritarian tendencies.

“The Congress party respects democratic values and remains committed to human rights,” Goud asserted. He criticized the routine branding of critics as "anti-national" and expressed deep concern over the curtailment of fundamental rights.

“Ignoring the Supreme Court’s clear guidelines of ‘bail is the rule, jail is the exception,’ people are being kept in prison for months without trial. This abuse of power erodes the right to personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21,” he warned, calling for a united front to protect the independence of the judiciary.

Emotional provocation

Goud said, "The provoking of emotions and coming to power through electoral malpractices is trampling upon civil liberties. Those who are raising issues are being harassed. This requires a collective fight, and both citizen groups and the Congress party are going to fight for the right to protect democracy and citizens' rights."

Goud emphasised that the Congress party upholds the sanctity of the Constitution, safeguards civil rights, and protects democracy. He said, "Congress party strongly stands against the BJP's authoritarian rule to protect the weaker sections of society."

Prakash Raj: "The Courts are Killing Justice"

In a fiery and emotional speech, actor Prakash Raj took aim at both the political establishment and the judiciary. He acknowledged the "shared pain and resilience" of the activists in the room, before launching into a critique of the RSS and its influence on national policy.

"Whatever is happening in this country is a preparation for a genocide," Raj claimed, alleging an agenda to "wipe out" tribal people and minorities.

He saved his harshest words for the legal system, stating that the courts were once the "last hope" for the common man but have now failed the public.

Raj also urged the public to look past electoral symbols and understand the "chronology" of recent events, citing the release of individuals accused in the Gauri Lankesh and Kalburgi murder cases as evidence of a compromised system.

A Call for Collective Action

The speakers collectively urged society to unite against the harassment of those raising questions on citizens' rights. Emphasizing safeguarding the Constitution and protecting civil liberties will help the country, urged the speakers. The event was organized by the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights (APCR).