1. Modi silences critics, claiming they’re a “threat to national security”
It’s one thing to attack critics in the press. But Narendra Modi is mobilizing Indian security forces to silence its critics, most notably Padma Shri Award-winning journalist Teesta Setalvad, who has been hounded by multiple government agencies to discourage her political participation.
- BBC NEWS: “Is Teesta Setalvad India’s most hounded activist?”
- New York Times: “Longtime Critic of Modi Is Now a Target”
2. Indian activists prevented from leaving the country
The Modi government is now physically silencing critics by preventing them from leaving the country. In a widely condemned move, the Modi government blocked a Greenpeace India campaigner from boarding a flight to London, where she was slated to speak about Indian environmental issues.
- NDTV: “Remove Greenpeace Activist’s Name From No-Fly List’: Court to Government”
- Firstpost: “Priya Pillai writes: Speaking out the most patriotic thing I have ever done”
3. Foreign funds for profit, but not for democracy
While Narendra Modi actively welcomes foreign funds for private profit, he has waged a major campaign against Indians receiving any international support for democratic engagement. This includes freezing the bank accounts of Greenpeace India (which is 70% Indian-funded), and targeting Indians associated with prestigious international funders like the Ford Foundation.
- Financial Times: “NGOs fear government crackdown amid Greenpeace India battle”
- FirstPost: “Ford Foundation freezes funding to India as Modi govt clamps down on NGOs”
- CS Monitor: “India crackdown? Ford Foundation latest foreign NGO slapped by Delhi”
Photo credit: Dinuraj K, cc-by
