Radha Kumar, author, academic and vice-chairperson of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi “is a textbook autocrat with totalitarian goals”.

In an interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire to mark the launch of her new book The Republic Relearnt: Renewing Indian Democracy 1947-2024, Kumar explained why Modi could be more dangerous than ordinary authoritarian rulers.

She adds, “He has been successfully projected by the BJP as a God-like figure who alone represents the nation and commands its homage; his decisions cannot be challenged. That is a textbook autocrat.”

“Authoritarians whose dominant interest is personal power are less dangerous to democracy than those with a long-term and far-reaching agenda … their grip on power is more difficult to shake … the Modi administration falls into the latter category.”

However, Radha Kumar makes clear that, as things stand, India has not become a totalitarian state but is well on the way to becoming one.

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