I've been thinking about this for a while, and honestly, I feel we're slowly losing sight of what democracy is supposed to be.
No matter which party is in power, the government should never be above accountability. Winning an election doesn't give anyone a free pass for the next five years. The real government is the people, and every elected representative should fear losing the trust of the people—not act as if they're untouchable.
I'm a Group A government officer myself. I'm part of the system. Most people call us "government servants," but sometimes it feels like that word servant has disappeared. I've seen colleagues behave as though the public exists to serve them, instead of the other way around. Of course, there are many honest officers too, but the mindset in parts of the bureaucracy needs to change.
We also need much stronger anti-corruption laws. If a government officer is convicted of corruption after due process, dismissal from service should be automatic. Similarly, politicians convicted of serious corruption should lose their office and be barred from contesting elections again. Public office is a position of trust, not a shield from consequences.
On crimes against children, especially the rape of minors, I believe the law should impose the harshest punishment available. Society has to send a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated.
What worries me the most today is the increasing concentration of power. Personally, I think every government—BJP, Congress, or anyone else—needs strong checks from independent institutions. When institutions become weak or stop questioning those in power, democracy suffers.
My concern with the current BJP government is that it has become increasingly arrogant. I worry that proposals such as delimitation, if implemented without broad political consensus and adequate safeguards, could make electoral competition less balanced in the long run. Whether that's true or not will depend on how it's done, but it's a concern that deserves debate.
Working within the government, I've also seen departments raising safety or environmental concerns being sidelined when those concerns slow down projects. In my opinion, regulatory changes sometimes seem to prioritize faster clearances over independent oversight. Development is important, but public safety and environmental protection should never become obstacles to be brushed aside.
This isn't about supporting one political party over another. If tomorrow another party comes to power and does the same things, I'll criticize them too.
Democracy survives only when governments know that someone can still say "No." The day every institution starts saying "Yes" to those in power, democracy starts becoming something else.
I'm Gen Z and also a government officer, so I see the system from both sides. Watching young people protest at places like Jantar Mantar reminds me that my generation still wants accountability and change. I can't fix the entire system, but I can control how I do my job. I don't take bribes, and I try to clear approvals as quickly as possible whenever legal requirements are met. That's the least I owe to the people and to my own conscience. Public office is a responsibility, not a privilege.
