Analysis: Collapsing Indian economy spells trouble for democracy

With the pandemic out of control, India’s government relationship with democracy is increasingly tenuous, writes Shashi Tharoor

A health worker screens people for symptoms of Covid-19 in Dharavi, one of Asia's biggest slums, in Mumbai, India, last week. Picture: AP

After a nearly six-month hiatus, the Indian parliament will reconvene in mid-September at a time of deepening national crisis. But I fear that it may be unable to hold the country’s failing government to account.

Parliament is obliged to meet now, because India’s constitution limits the gap between sessions to six months, and the Covid-19 pandemic has forced all sessions to be suspended since March.