NEW DELHI: The annual report released by Freedom House, a US government-funded NGO that studies political freedom around the world has given thumbs down to India’s status as a democratic and free society. Freedom House is a Washington-based non-profit, non-government organisation that has been conducting research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights since 1941. The status of India has been relegated from free to ‘partly free.’ The report on political rights and civil liberties, released by NGO Freedom House says ‘democracy is under siege in India.’ It went on to say that India “appears to have abandoned