– Raheem Khan
Kota: In its ongoing effort to uphold the Constitution and safeguard democracy, Loktantra Bachao Andolan Samiti organised a lecture on “Growing Threats to Democracy and Solutions” here, discussing challenges facing democratic institutions and potential remedies.
Prominent Supreme Court Advocate Mahmood Pracha detailed his legal battles against Election Commission of India (ECI) and BJP-led central government in the Supreme Court and various High Courts. He asserted that election rigging through EVMs is not a mere allegation but a deliberate strategy. Pracha highlighted that previous petitions challenging EVMs were dismissed, but his petition remains under consideration by the Supreme Court. Pracha said that despite attempts to shield the ECI through parliamentary ordinances, we persist in the campaign to replace EVMs with traditional ballot paper voting. He emphasised the critical role of public support in this fight and noted that many Opposition parties back his efforts. According to Pracha, considerable progress is being made in this direction.
Pracha also discussed the increasing challenges faced by Kota’s large coaching centres, which he believes are under pressure in the name of elections, potentially weakening the city’s status as a prominent educational hub.
Held at Lajpat Rai Bhawan with participation of a diverse audience of citizens, educators, and intellectuals from the Kota region, the lecture was presided over by committee president Ajay Chaturvedi, with convener Yashwant Singh formally welcoming Pracha. Esteemed litterateur Mahendra Neh and Professor Dr. Sanjay Chawla moderated the proceedings.
Several prominent individuals shared their perspectives in support of democracy, including Mohammad Rizwan Khan, Vice Chairman of the State Congress Committee; senior members Duli Chand Borada and Fateh Chand Bagla; Vijay Singh Paliwal, convener of India Against Corruption; and Rakhi Gautam, State President of the Women’s Congress.
The event concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session, during which Pracha addressed audience queries. His responses received enthusiastic applause, reflecting the strong support for his views and ongoing efforts to protect democracy in India.
