Pitroda also alleged that appointing people aligned with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as vice-chancellors had undermined the independence of higher education institutions.
“We have put vice-chancellors who are RSS people. I mean, that means you’re interfering with education, higher education,” he said.
He further claimed that the space available to civil society, independent journalism and government critics had diminished. Those speaking against the government faced harassment and action by investigating agencies, he alleged.
Pitroda questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from regular press conferences, arguing that elected leaders had a responsibility to engage directly with citizens and answer questions about their performance.
“How come Prime Minister of India does not have press conference?” he asked, adding that public dialogue should include an acknowledgement of achievements, failures and areas requiring improvement.
According to Pitroda, democratic governance depends on collaboration, communication, consultation and compromise. He said India was instead moving towards an increasingly centralised system.
“Today, it is command and control. And that is a problem with democracy,” he said.
“Democracy is all about consensus building. Democracy is about give and take. Democracy is not about my way or highway. Democracy is not about fear.”
Pitroda said the growing use of authoritarian methods was part of a wider global trend rather than a development confined to India. He cited the United States, Hungary, China and Russia as examples of countries where governments were increasingly asserting state power and control.
“World over, there is a tendency for authoritarian regime to show their power,” he said.
The government, Election Commission and other institutions named by Pitroda were not quoted responding to his allegations.
With IANS inputs
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