Senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda has alleged that India's democratic institutions have been “captured” and that the judiciary and the Election Commission of India (ECI) can no longer be regarded as fully independent. Speaking in an interview from New York on 28 August, Pitroda also accused the government of deploying investigative agencies against critics and tightening its grip over education, civil society, and the media.

Key Allegations

“So I think institutions have been captured,” Pitroda said when asked whether the judiciary and the Election Commission remained independent. “Let’s look at the track record now. You think election commission is independent in India? I don’t think so. Now we can argue about the degree of it.”

Pitroda further alleged that space for critical journalism had contracted and that those who spoke out faced targeted harassment. “Media is completely bought out, biased, and those who are speaking against get harassed. Revenge is a way of life. You immediately send ED or somebody,” he alleged.

Contrast With Manmohan Singh Era

Pitroda drew a sharp contrast with the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, stating he was unaware of any pressure being exerted by the Prime Minister’s Office on constitutional authorities during that period. “I don’t think during Manmohan Singh time, at least I know, there was any pressure from Prime Minister’s office to anybody. That’s not the way Manmohan Singh operated,” he said.

When asked whether political influence could have existed under the previous Congress-led government as well, Pitroda acknowledged the possibility but argued that the degree mattered. “Possible. I don’t know. It’s possible, but it’s the degree of it,” he said.

Concerns Over Education and Civil Society

Pitroda alleged that appointments of individuals aligned with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as university Vice-Chancellors had weakened the independence of higher education. “We have put vice chancellors who are RSS people. I mean, that means you’re interfering with education, higher education,” he said. He added that civil society had been curtailed and was “not allowed to function.”

Democracy and the Absence of Press Conferences

Pitroda also questioned the health of Indian democracy in the context of what he described as the absence of regular press conferences by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “How come Prime Minister of India does not have press conference? How can you tolerate that, that you don’t go out to public and have a dialogue,” he said. He argued that democratic governance required consultation, compromise, and continuous communication with citizens, contrasting this with what he called an increasingly centralised “command and control” model.

A Global Pattern, Pitroda Argues

Pitroda contextualised his remarks within a broader global trend, citing developments in the United States, Hungary, China, and Russia. “World over, there is a tendency for authoritarian regime to show their power. It is true in Hungary. It is true to some extent here. It is definitely true in China and Russia, and it is true also in India,” he said. The remarks are likely to sharpen the political debate ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) yet to formally respond to the specific allegations.