Portrait of Narendra Modi
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Narendra Modi on Democracy

Democratic Backsliding (strong)

Narendra Modi frequently champions democracy, particularly emphasizing the legitimacy drawn from his significant electoral victories as evidence of popular support for his governance. He often speaks of India as the world's largest democracy, positioning his mandate as one derived directly from the majority of the Indian electorate. Despite this vocal support for democratic principles, analysts have frequently pointed to a pattern of democratic backsliding during his premiership, characterized by the weakening of key institutions. This shift is often described as moving towards an authoritarian style of government centered around his personality, which creates a nuanced view of his actual commitment to democratic norms.

Context

Narendra Modi's views on democracy are critical as he has served as the Prime Minister of India since 2014, leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His actions in office have direct implications for the country's democratic health, making his public statements and policies on the subject highly significant. The context is further shaped by his background in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an organisation whose ideology has been cited as informing the administration's shift toward Hindu nationalism.

Actions Taken

  1. Institutional Change
    Presided over significant centralisation of power in the Prime Minister's office, for example, by abolishing the Planning Commission and replacing it with the NITI Aayog.
  2. Legislation
    Enacted the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which used religion as a criterion for citizenship, a first in Indian law, drawing widespread protest.
  3. Constitutional Amendment
    Repealed Article 370 of the constitution, which granted autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, and revoked its statehood, followed by a lengthy lockdown.
  4. Freedom of Expression
    The government was accused of using state power to intimidate and stifle critics in the media and academia, undermining freedom of expression.

Related Positions

  • Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Its religious basis for citizenship is cited as evidence of a shift away from India's secular democratic foundation.
  • Revocation of Article 370 The unilateral action to remove the special status and statehood of Jammu and Kashmir is seen as an executive overreach.
  • Digital India programme While promoting e-governance, investigations into civil society organisations under the guise of this can be seen as suppressing dissent.

Criticism

Scholars/Analysts

India has experienced democratic backsliding under Modi's tenure, with a notable weakening of democratic institutions, individual rights, and freedom of expression.

Scholars Nandini Sundar and Kiran Bhatty

The administration engaged in the subversion of the Supreme Court and other major institutions by filling them with appointees favouring the BJP.

Critics

The government has been accused of using its democratic mandate to undermine democratic processes by focusing on Hindu-nationalist priorities over economic development.

Sources1

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.