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How to Subvert a Democracy: Inside India's Deep State

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India is a democracy at bay. This compelling book puts the spotlight not on political leaders but on the murky workings of India's deep state--from the police to the federal investigative and intelligence agencies.

Traversing the Mumbai train blasts, the Kashmir insurgency, the Gujarat 'war on terror' and the Delhi riots, Josy Joseph reveals corruption and political agendas running through the core of agencies that should ensure justice and accountability, and shows how this has undermined democracy. In 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, India's democratic pillars suffered another the arrest of activists, dissidents and journalists opposed to Narendra Modi's government, some on dubious charges, others under stringent anti-terror laws.

Some contend that Modi has simply perfected the art of subverting a democratic state's security establishment, bending it to his will. With false arrests, the overlooking of right-wing Hindu terror, an establishment bias against Muslims and an unenviable human rights record that has often relied on extrajudicial killings or false testimonies, India's domestic security institutions have become just another player in pursuit of power. How did this happen? And why does India, the world's largest democracy, often subvert the very ideals of democratic politics when dealing with security challenges?

361 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2022

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About the author

Josy Joseph

4 books108 followers
Josy Joseph is an Indian investigative journalist.

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Profile Image for Sumitra Debina Mitra.
1 review1 follower
December 27, 2023
A deep dive into India’s security establishments and their role in enabling the fall of democratic India

A collection of thoroughly researched cases proving that India’s security agencies have played a large role in fueling religious divides, aiding political parties in covering up crimes, and fabricating evidence to suit their ulterior motives. This book truly helps you understand how India got to where it is now and the long road ahead to regain our true freedom.
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