Constitution Undermined to Push Hindu Rashtra Agenda, Claims Mohan Gopal

Quick Summary

• Event Details: Constitutional expert Mohan Gopal delivered a lecture titled “Changing Media Priorities and Constitutional Rights” in Kochi, organized by the Ernakulam Press Club as part of the C.V. Pappachan Award ceremony on August 12, 2025.

• Main Observations:

– Mr. Gopal alleged that the BJP government has reduced India’s Constitution to a subservient administrative document to promote a Hindu rashtra.
– He stated that governance in BJP-ruled states and Union Territories is being conducted with the Vedas as the highest authority.
– India’s global press freedom ranking has declined sharply, now occupying the 151st position. This decline reportedly began with BJP’s tenure starting in 2014.

• Concerns Raised:

– Social media users critical of government policies are allegedly facing imprisonment.
– India is referred to as an “electoral autocracy” by Sweden-based University of Gothenburg studies on democracy.
– Judicial rulings were criticized, including one where the Supreme Court reportedly praised aspects related to caste systems.

• fundamental rights at Risk:

– Article 19(1), which guarantees free speech, was highlighted as being under threat according to Mr. gopal.

• Other Highlights:

– Minister P. Rajeeve inaugurated the award function and presented Siraj Kasim with an honor and cash prize.

Indian Opinion analysis

The concerns raised during Mohan Gopal’s lecture reflect broader debates about constitutional supremacy, governance frameworks based on religious or cultural principles versus secular foundations, and media freedoms within india’s democratic trajectory. Highlighting India’s significant drop in global press freedom rankings (to rank 151), Mr. gopal links this decline primarily to political shifts as BJP gained power in national governance post-2014-a claim that presents stark challenges for policymakers seeking to uphold democratic principles amidst evolving narratives around national identity and authority sources like religious texts vs legal structures.

If verified broadly across different studies or assessments from non-partisan bodies, issues such as free speech limitations (Article 19(1)) or allegations regarding social media crackdowns could signal potential risks ahead for democratic safeguards-a vital concern for maintaining constitutional fidelity over majoritarian agendas within diverse populations governed under one charter framework democratically ratified decades ago..

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