VP Dhankhar Warns Populism Threatens Good Governance

Quick summary

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed the first ‘murli Deora Memorial Dialogues’ in Mumbai on March 6, 2025.
• He warned against populism, stating it threatens good governance and is historically linked to bad economics.
• Dhankhar called for a national debate on transitioning from democracy to what he termed “E-mocracy.”
• He highlighted issues with emotion-driven policies and debates which deter effective governance.
• Concerns were raised about rising illegal immigration and its impact on demographics and electoral politics.
• The Vice-president noted that excessive electoral appeasement reduces the state’s capacity for infrastructure investment, affecting growth.
• Affirmative actions as outlined in Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution were distinguished from populist measures.
• He expressed worries over religious conversions through allurements targeting vulnerable communities.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s address highlights notable challenges confronting India’s governance framework. His remarks underscore the potential economic pitfalls of populist policies coupled with their long-term sustainability concerns. By emphasizing a move towards emotion-driven political discourse as detrimental, he advocates for maintaining focus on broad societal benefits rather than momentary gains.

His statements regarding illegal immigration point toward concerns over national resource allocation and employment opportunities. Furthermore, addressing issues such as religious conversions opens discussions about maintaining cultural integrity while safeguarding constitutional freedoms.

The Vice-President’s call to critically assess pre-election promises implicates a need for pragmatic financial planning without compromising developmental objectives. Adopting such an approach could ensure balanced progress while adhering to democratic principles.

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!Murli Deora Memorial Dialogues