New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) BJP MP Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi on Wednesday referred to India as the world’s only “vibrant living democracy” spanning from Eastern Europe to Japan. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on electoral reforms, Trivedi asserted that although Australia and Japan are recognized as democracies, India stands unique due to the depth and vitality of its democratic practices.

To reinforce his argument, Trivedi referenced a Freedom House report, which he claimed illustrated a historical connection between Hinduism and democratic traditions.

He contended that India’s civilizational ethos fostered democratic values long before modern institutions were established. In discussing the history of elections, Trivedi recalled that the first election petition was submitted by Dr B.R. Ambedkar after his defeat in his constituency.

He mentioned that Jawaharlal Nehru had communicated with Lord Mountbatten acknowledging Congress’s victory in Bombay, reportedly stating that Ambedkar was “joining hands with Hindu communists.”

Furthermore, Trivedi emphasized flaws in electoral processes over the decades, especially during the Emergency period when Indira Gandhi’s election win faced judicial challenges.

He noted that electronic voting machines (EVMs) were introduced during Rajiv Gandhi’s administration, marking a technological advancement in India’s electoral framework.

Trivedi maintained that the Congress era of dominance concluded once measures like CCTV surveillance, voter ID cards, independent media, an autonomous judiciary, and increasing literacy rates were implemented.

“They received votes when ballot boxes were looted, booths were seized, bullets were fired, and lives were lost,” he stated emphatically, adding, “That era will not return.”

He accused Congress of failing to recognize that achieving electoral success today relies not on manipulation but on “deep bonds and trust” between leaders and citizens.

According to him, the BJP’s electoral victories embody genuine connections with voters, contrasting sharply with the practices that tarnished elections in prior decades.

Trivedi’s remarks intensified the heated debate in Parliament, where the ruling party has endeavored to highlight its vision for electoral integrity against what it labels as Congress’s legacy of flawed practices.