Lok Sabha Elections 2024: ‘Mother of democracy' India not in good shape, Financial Times Editorial Board writes

The ‘intensifying clampdown’ on opposition parties in India suggests that the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in ‘ill health, with worrying implications' for the upcoming , an opinion by the Editorial Board of Financial Times, has said. 

Titled the British daily business newspaper says that the ‘gap between pro-democratic rhetoric and reality is widening in India.’ The newspaper says Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often called India the ‘.’ 

The newspaper further states that a ‘squeeze on free expression and opposition’ has been a feature of PM Modi’s (BJP) rule, especially since its second win in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The piece refers to the recent arrest of opposition leaders, including , by the Enforcement Directorate and the bank account freezing allegation by the Congress, the principal opposition party.   

“Harassment, often by tax or legal authorities, has become common for government critics, be they independent media, academics, think tanks or civil society groups. The BJP’s muscular Hindu nationalism has eroded India’s tradition of secular democracy," reads the piece. 

The Financial Times piece comes amid opposition charges of against the PM Modi-led government. The opposition has, for this reason, called the BJP a ‘washing machine’, referring to the increasing phenomenon of opposition politicians accused of corruption not facing any probe after switching over to the BJP. The charge has been by the government. 

An report on April 3 said that at least 23 of 25 opposition leaders accused of corruption since 2014 have got reprieve after joining the BJP. 

The FT piece also refers to the March 31  ‘Loktantra Bachao’ Maharally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, in which key opposition leaders