Indian democracy has empowered backward classes: Ansari

The democratic process in India has brought about a shift in political power from the middle and higher castes and classes of urban society to the backward classes, who are now politically the most influential ones in the country, Vice-President Hamid Ansari said on Monday.

"They (backward castes) have won reservations for themselves in legislatures and government services as were accorded to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes after independence through Constitutional provisions," said Ansari who is on a three-day official visit to Hungary.

"There are few examples in recent history of such a conspicuous shift of political power, involving such a huge mass of population, taking place in such a short period of time almost without any violence and in a democratic way. This is one more example of the miracles that democracy can create,” he added.

"So there is much to celebrate, much to be proud of. At the same time, living societies also introspect from time to time, recall their foundational principles and assess the work still to be done," the Vice-President said, while addressing a seminar on 'Indian Democracy: Achievements and Challenges' at the Corvinus University.