As large mobs of supporters of the former Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, stormed the presidential palace and Congress and Supreme Court premises in Brasilia, the world was quick to condemn the attempted insurrection. On Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leader of the world’s largest democracy, expressed concern about the rioting and vandalism, insisting that democratic traditions must be respected and making it clear that New Delhi stood by the newly sworn-in government of President Luiz Inàcio Lula da Silva. Even though Brazil was able to bring the immediate violence under control, removing and arresting hundreds of rioters, the events served as a warning to democracies around the world, — including India. In many ways, Brazil on January 8, 2023, saw a version of what the United States of America did on January 6, 2021. On both occasions, supporters of defeated, outgoing presidents attacked State institutions that they believed had participated in fraud to deny their candidates victory. In both cases, the violence was rooted in falsehoods and conspiracy theories promoted by leaders in responsible positions. The former US president, Donald Trump, and Mr Bolsonaro have, for years, claimed that the electoral system was rigged against them — even though it also brought them to power.

Against that backdrop, Mr Modi and his foreign policy advisers too face embarrassing questions: was it wise to host Mr Bolsonaro as chief guest for India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2020, when his campaign to discredit democratic institutions was well-known? After the assault on the US Capitol in 2021 and now in Brasilia, there is no telling which country might witness such scenes in the future. But there are more ways than one to undermine democracy. Mr Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party have been guilty of toppling democratically-elected governments through controversial means. Meanwhile, many Opposition parties have repeatedly raised questions about the sanctity of electronic voting machines without any hard evidence of fraud. All this weakens the legitimacy of democracy. But the biggest questions stemming from the attempted insurrections in Washington and Brasilia are for the institutions that are the protectors of India’s democracy. Their counterparts in the US and Brazil resisted leaders who wanted to subvert democracy, thus keeping alive the will of the people. India needs its institutions to similarly hold firm against efforts at politicising them. Else, the slippery slope that is its democracy could become steeper.