Key Modi rival Rahul Gandhi among potential Indian targets of NSO client

In what way is the opposition being suppressed? Other than the Congress which is suffering from a self-inflicted, mortal wound, the smaller parties are doing quite well in their own states.

> prevent criticism of itself

This statement has no basis in reality. The Hinduphobic left and their friends in media have done nothing but abuse the Modi government for seven straight years with zero consequences.

> people who have already suffered from the oppression

Who is being oppressed? In what way?

> Governments operate under the rule of law and respect for democracy and human rights.

Sure. That explains the benevolent nature of the Chinese/Iranian/Pakistani governments. And also why the US government keeps overthrowing other democratically elected governments, interfering in foreign elections and invading foreign countries to spread democracy while carpet bombing the local population.

Please.

Governments are entities that exercise a monopoly over violence within a certain territory. The nature of the government depends on those in power and those who get them there.

That's why @mynameismon is very correct. When the Congress finally crashed in nineties, there was no contender even for an empty seat. Even Basu (a freaking totalitarian himself,) who almost got the seat, himself decided against at the last second.

Congress too was a very authoritarian party in the past, as much as almost everybody else in the political arena. Indian politics were very violent prior up until 200x. There were no "good" party.

If you have no credible, genuine opposition, you will not have a choice in between good, and bad, but in between bad, and bad.

Take a good look on Indian political landscape in post-independence history, and you will understand that India, though all its 74 years of independent existence never had anything coming as an alternative to the Congress, that wasn't as authoritarian as Congress:

— JD, and United Front were stillborn, putting literally nothing on the table other than not being the Congress. Radiagate, Ranjan Bhattacharya.... list goes on.

— In WB, Basu was ordering hit jobs on the opposition, and his own fellow commies almost weekly.

— "In the liberal South" they had constant Blue/Red, and Hindu/Tamil violence, because local parties had nothing but the same caste/religion/race cards the BJP plays today.

— Maharashtra politics — gangsterland. It was, and still is

Congress, is corrupt to the T. Everyone had enough of these vampires. BJP was the only other viable national party. But I agree the situation is not ideal. I pity the residents of this country they are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I was very young when I saw (and still remember) Congress party goons setting fire to Sikh homes in New Delhi. I heard stories of how congress party workers in Delhi butchered countless Sikhs. Please note that I am not defending Modi in any way and I despise right wing fascism everywhere.

Whether the bad parts should be tolerated because of the good parts it's another matter (and given the things you're listed, I personally don't care about what good policies you do if that's the price to pay). that said we must be able to talk about policies and outcomes it their own right without tainting them with who has brought them.

The BJP was built by the likes of Advani & Vajpayee many who were refugees of the Islamic partition of India, these are people who had built their own life from scratch.

Not to mention Modi the son of a tea seller, who rose to power on his own merit.

The BJP wins because it knows the grassroots where they come from, the congress and the left are elitist completely out of touch with reality.

> I myself will be happy if any good party with a more pro-democracy and progressive views takes up the mantle. Be it a new party, a regional party which has gone national or even a revitalized congress.

Politics almost always is a choice between bad and worse. Until a better third option emerges or the (dynastic, corrupt & inept) Congress changes its leadership / policies (of which there are no indications), BJP is a far less worse choice.

> Thats your assertion. For some reason BJP supporters cannot see beyond Congress and Nehru.

I expected HN to not fall victim to whataboutism so quickly

What Modi is doing is the problem here. It doesn't matter if other would-be-tyrants also did it. That doesn't makes it acceptable.

The senior police officer Sanjeev Bhatt, then serving as an intelligence officer had approached the court with evidence and allegations about Modi's direct involvement. The call records were suddenly lost. Bhatt was then convicted for life for a death of a person who died after being released post questioning. This death had happened some 20 years ago and Bhatt, then a newly minted police officer, had been cleared of responsibility at that time. This incident was dug up, case reopened and he was convicted. Judges in Indian courts are often bought, by money and by favors or by threats of harassments.