(a) A democratic government is a legitimate government due to a variety of reasons:
(i) A Democratic Government is called a legitimate government because it is the people's government as the people have chosen their representatives through Universal Adult Franchise.
(ii) It may be slow, less efficient and not very responsive and clean, but it is the people's government and works towards protecting their rights and liberties under all circumstances.
(iii) People wish to be ruled by representatives elected by them. Democracy's ability to generate its support makes it more legitimate.
(iv) In a democracy, people have freedom of speech and expression which gives it credibility as well as legitimacy among the people.
(v) There is overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world. People of South Asia do not doubt the suitability of democracy for their own countries.
OR
(b) Democracy is a better form of government when compared with dictatorship or any other alternative. We felt that democracy was better because:

(i) Democracy promotes equality among citizens: Democracy offers a setting where fundamental freedoms and human rights are upheld, and where the people's freely expressed will is carried out. Individuals can influence decisions and hold decision-makers responsible. Men and women enjoy equal rights, and discrimination is not permitted. Such rights are not available in nations with dictatorships.
(ii) Democracy enhances the dignity of the individual: Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy.
(iii) Democracy improves the quality of decision making: In a democracy, we are most concerned with ensuring that people will have the right to choose their rulers and people will have control over the rulers. Whenever possible and necessary, citizens should be able to participate in decision making, which affects them all.
(iv) Democracy provides a method to resolve conflicts: Democracies usually develop a procedure to conduct their competition. This reduces the possibility of these tensions becoming explosive or violent. No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups. But we can certainly learn to respect these differences and we can also evolve mechanisms to negotiate the differences. Democracy is best suited to produce this outcome.
(v) Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation: Non-democratic rulers do not have to bother about deliberation in assemblies or worry about majorities and public opinion. So, they can be very quick and efficient in decision-making and implementation. Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiations, so some delay is bound to take place and decisions may be both more acceptable and more effective.