India’s national government looks increasingly hapless
Confronted with catastrophe, the state has melted away
TWO SHORT months ago Narendra Modi’s government was one of the most popular and confident in India’s history. Now, judging by fresh election results, by the eruption of criticism even in the largely docile mainstream media, by sharp reprimands issued by top courts, by thumbs-down judgments by seasoned analysts and by a level of rage on social media unusual even for India’s hothouse online forums, the prime minister and his government are in trouble.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Paper tiger”
Asia May 8th 2021
- India’s national government looks increasingly hapless
- Why is Mumbai handling its second wave better than Delhi?
- South Koreans are discovering a taste for Instagrammable interiors
- Filipino food banks are accused of communist sympathies
- Water in Bangladesh is either unsafe or pricey
- Australia’s debate about China is becoming hot, angry and shrill
From the May 8th 2021 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Asia
Who is Lee Jae-myung, South Korea’s possible next president?
The Economist interviews the divisive progressive leader
Is Cambodia slipping out of China’s orbit?
A new generation of leaders could be more receptive to the West
Why Taiwanese youth complain of becoming “housing slaves”
A new generation is questioning the value of homeownership
The Quad finally gets serious on security
The Indo-Pacific coalition signals a tougher approach to China
Taiwan’s political drama is paralysing its government
Domestic dysfunction plays right into China’s hands
An angry culture war surrounds Australia Day
Conservatives claim that wokeness is destroying the national holiday