All political parties and civil organizations should raise their voice against them
Lucknow, (Asian independent) The attack on the house of SP MP Ramji Lal Suman in Agra yesterday by the so-called Karni Sena is a symbol of dangerous dictatorship and is condemnable. The rise of such armies is not an isolated incident but the resurgence of the goons and private armies of the old landlords/feudal lords in the village. It is also being seen that every day somewhere or the other, a person’s house or office is being attacked and vandalized by so-called organizations and private armies over some issue. Attacks on the homes and offices of individuals by private armies pose a serious threat to both the rule of law and democracy. The rule of law depends on the state having a monopoly on the legitimate use of force, which is done through established legal processes and institutions like the police and the judiciary. When private groups take justice into their own hands, it undermines this principle, erodes public trust in legal systems and creates a parallel power structure that operates outside of accountability.
It is well-established that democracy depends on the protection of individual rights, freedom of expression and the ability of citizens to participate in governance without fear of violence or intimidation. Such attacks – whether political, ideological or motivated by personal vendettas – create fear, suppress dissent and disrupt the democratic process. They can also polarise societies, escalate conflicts and undermine the social contract that binds citizens to a shared system of governance.
Historically, unregulated private armies or vigilante groups have destabilised democracies by promoting chaos and enabling authoritarian tendencies, as seen in cases such as the Blackshirts in Fascist Italy or various paramilitary groups in conflict zones. The danger increases especially when these actions are not punished, which indicates impunity and encourages further erosion of institutional authority.
Unfortunately, at present a large number of private armies have cropped up in India under various names like Karni Sena and many others which are indirectly patronised by the ruling party and actively supported by corporate mafia capital. This is a big threat to the rule of law, security of citizens, freedom of expression and the right to dissent. This is a recurrence of the feudal and autocratic system of old kings and lords, which is a big threat to democracy and the rule of law. It is more worrying that Hindutva governments/forces are promoting and protecting these armies/organisations. All India Peoples Front expresses deep concern over this phenomenon and condemns the illegal and anarchist activities of such private armies/organisations. AIPF appeals to all political parties and civil organizations to raise their voice against them and demand the government to take strict legal action against them.
S.R. Darapuri,
National President,
