Modi’s grip tightens

• Published date: 12 April 2024
• Publication title: Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

Modi’s undoubted personal popularity and economic success – the value of India’s stock market has grown threefold since he first took office, its economy is almost twice as big – will play the major part in his victory in what he has repeatedly called “the mother of democracy”. But he has also leaned heavily on a crackdown on free speech and opposition parties, with hundreds of politically targeted corruption and tax cases filed against opposition MPs and leaders. India’s democratic credentials have been severely tarnished

Most recent was the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the Aam Aadmi party and chief minister of Delhi since 2015, over an alleged “scam” involving alcohol sales. He is now languishing in jail. And Congress, India’s largest opposition party, has seen the tax authority freeze millions in its bank accounts, crippling its ability to campaign.

The BJP denies any role, with Modi insisting the federal agency conducting most of the...