Opinion: Why is Biden silent on Modi and India's slide toward autocracy? (via latimesopinion )
Narendra Modi’s suppression of dissent has brought India to its knees and tens of thousands of Indians to their deathbeds.
Authoritarians thrive on the aura of invincibility. Every time we compromise with India’s current leaders we reinforce that strongman image, and every time we criticize them we help puncture it. The criticism should be fair and constructive. India’s government deserves credit for progress on several fronts. Just not on democratic freedoms. And the right kind of pushback may actually persuade Modi to rein in the fanatics in his regime. He is looking at possible successors such as his right-hand man and BJP pitbull Amit Shah, or Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state. These men would probably take India in an even darker direction.
But perhaps most importantly, international criticism remains fair game for the Indian media to cover, and is thus a powerful way to reach the Indian public. This is what the BJP fears most. Their repression has been carefully hidden and spun to win over Indian voters. Repression works well under this kind of veil, but when exposed, it can backfire and rapidly turn people against authoritarians..
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