Team Neemopani
🏛️ 1. Democratic Backsliding
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Press Freedom: India has dropped in global press freedom rankings. Journalists critical of the government have faced raids, arrests, and intimidation.
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Civil Liberties: Use of sedition laws, anti-terrorism laws (like UAPA), and internet shutdowns has increased, drawing criticism from human rights groups.
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Opposition Suppression: Multiple opposition leaders have been investigated or jailed under financial and criminal charges, leading critics to say India is slipping into “electoral authoritarianism.”
🌐 2. Religious Polarization
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Minority Rights: Critics argue that laws like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and actions against Muslim-majority regions (like Kashmir) have deepened religious divides.
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Mob Violence: Lynching incidents and vigilante violence over beef, religious slogans, or interfaith marriages have grown, often with weak law enforcement against perpetrators.
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Hindutva Push: The government and its allies are accused of promoting a majoritarian Hindu nationalist agenda that sidelines secular principles established at India’s founding.
📉 3. Economic Concerns
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Job Crisis: Unemployment is at a multi-decade high, and informal sector workers have been hit hard, especially after demonetization and COVID-19 lockdowns.
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Demonetization Shock: In 2016, the sudden invalidation of high-denomination currency disrupted small businesses and rural economies, with unclear long-term benefits.
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Wealth Inequality: India’s wealth gap has widened, with big corporates flourishing while rural distress persists, leading some to say the growth is not inclusive.
🌿 4. Environmental Rollbacks
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Forest Rights: Legal changes have weakened protections for tribal lands and forests.
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Industrial Priority: Critics argue that Modi’s pro-business policies often come at the expense of environmental safeguards, risking long-term sustainability.
🕊️ 5. Kashmir and Geopolitics
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Article 370 Revocation: Stripping Jammu & Kashmir of its autonomy in 2019 was celebrated by some but condemned by others as undemocratic and legally questionable.
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International Image: While Modi has built strong ties with the West, India’s internal crackdowns have dented its image as the “world’s largest democracy” in some circles.
