Devyani Joshi

Neither Modi nor Yogi are “autocrats”. However, an important hypothetical point deserves to be made: India will do MUCH better even under the autocratic rule of a patriotic, dharmik & selfless Karma Yogi, than under the kakistocratic rule of a dynastic pappu!

Lifting nearly half a billion people out of poverty in 12 years is a remarkable achievement! However, as usual, western media (and subservient Indian mainstream media) try to undercut it ("although the gains remain uneven"). Of course, some inequality always remains (everywhere!). But the fact of the matter is that Indian society keeps becoming more equal. In fact, India has better equality currently, than any G7 or G20 nation! Moreover, "extreme poverty" fell from 27.1% to 2.6% in the same 12-year period. And, India added 134 million jobs in just the second half of this 12-year period. All this was accomplished by a supposedly "far-right" government in India, which, BTW, also built 45 million houses for poor people and raised income tax exemption up to Rs 1,300,000 for the benefit of the middle class (about 13-14k USD per annum)! As I always insist, these right and left wing tags are pretty subjective and arbitrary. Modi's BJP/NDA government is IMHO a centrist government and NOT "far-right", whether one looks at it from the perspective of economic policies, socio-cultural agendas, religious matters or international relations.