India ’s democratic institutions were painstakingly built by leaders and political activists during the long years of the national movement for independence. With far-sighted vision, and a modern, secular world-view, they attempted to build structures that would balance each other and provide justice to all citizens. Within this world-view were constituted, not only the legislature, executive, and judiciary, but also various autonomous commissions and tribunals and the institutions of the media. In addition, scope was provided for the functioning of citizens and civil society groups and democratic people’s movements.

For over three decades these institutions survived as a framework within which working people could struggle for a better life. By the end of the 1970s, however, the dominant social classes and their representatives had begun to intervene. By the turn of the century, these vested interests had dismantled or distorted most democratic institutions in pursuance of their sectarian agenda. Debate over substantive issues had ceased in Parliament, the executive had become a pliable instrument in the hands of the ruling elite, the judiciary was actively following a path based on its ideological biases, and the media was functioning as a partisan instrument. Emergent communal, neo-liberal, and ‘free market’ forces have further intensified these trends.

The rising tide of fundamentalist forces all over the world has contributed significantly to the erosion of democratic traditions in the name of ‘freedom’ and ‘security’. Fear and paranoia are being instigated and manipulated to subdue societies into obedience and conformity. Cherished ideals of liberty and social and political equality are being undermined. We believe it to be the responsibility of citizens to resist the onslaught of reactionary and anti-democratic forces and to contribute what they can to preserve, protect, and strengthen democracy. We propose the formation of the Citizen’s Campaign for Preserving Democracy as one of the many emergent initiatives in the Indian polity.

CCPD has been active with different areas of concern: with political prisoners, for victims of communal atrocities, and against the oppression of minorities, women, and the ‘lower castes’.

Recently, CCPD has tried to grapple with the question of the propensity of the state to declare certain sections of society as outside the pale of citizenship itself. The investigations carried out by the CCPD over the last few months in Delhi, into the issue of the purported "Bangladeshi" have revealed that there has been extensive violation of the rule of law in this matter. Right from round-up and arrest, to the supposed 'hearing' and deportation, no lawful procedure is being followed by the authorities. The entire process contributes to and manifests the criminalization of the state and the corruption of its legal and juridical institutions

Based on the investigations the CCPD has prepared a report titled "Democracy, Citizens and Migrants: Nationalism in the Era of Globalisation" which was released on 8th February 2005 by Justice Rajender Sachar in a seminar held in Delhi .

The CCPD recognizes that it is not only the human rights of “illegal migrants” that is under threat at present. All marginalised groups, as well as large sections of the informal working class, are being pushed to the edges of society. Much of this is being done in the name of ‘protecting the environment’ or ‘beautifying the landscape’ or ‘preserving our heritage’. There is at work a systematic process to disenfranchise the poor so that they have no voce in democratic governance or decision making or constitute a part of the ‘political’ landscape any more.