Shashi Tharoor Praised The Leadership And Infrastructure Achievements Of PM Modi And Highlighted Concerns About Democratic Institutions

Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has hailed the remarkable leadership capabilities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a major political feat that coincided with his becoming the longest-serving elected head of government in India. Tharoor said in an exclusive interview that the Prime Minister was an “extraordinarily strong orator and has a very articulate vision.” He pointed out that whatever his political affiliation, one has to appreciate the immense dynamism, energy, and compelling national presence of PM Modi, with a special mention of his ability to resonate with the Hindi-speaking community and his imprint on Indian society and politics.

Apart from public speaking and political influence, Tharoor hailed the current government's economic accomplishments, including the rapid scaling up of infrastructure across the country, as a major success of PM Modi's government. The Congress leader recognised these developments, but said that more economic progress is possible, while cautioning stakeholders to be mindful that an overall evaluation of any administration should include its failures as well as its achievements. The leader of the opposition countered the achievements with serious questions about the country's social and constitutional fabric. Tharoor voiced his grave concern about what he termed as a growing communal rift and polarising political rhetoric, which has seen a significant section of the population feel alienated. In addition, he referred to the concerns of the southern states in India about the future of federalism and spoke against the centralisation of power.

Switching to the realm of governance and accountability, Tharoor reiterated many others' concerns about the autonomy of central regulators. He said that in the last 12 years, various autonomous features of Indian democracy, such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Election Commission, have been systematically eliminated. In his conclusion, Tharoor affirmed his admiration for the Prime Minister's accomplishments while emphasising that this seminal era of government has also brought new challenges that threaten India's democratic health.