Ex-CEA Subramanian - Manmohan Ousted 11 State Govts, Modi None

Former Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian has challenged the notion that democracy is declining in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He pointed out that not a single state government has been dismissed in the past decade, whereas his predecessor, Dr. Manmohan Singh, dismissed 11 state governments during his tenure from 2004 to 2014.

Subramanian, who served as the CEA from 2018 to 2021, discussed these issues during a panel discussion with former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan at Northwestern's Kellogg Business School. He highlighted positive trends in India's democracy and economy, including the significant increase in the number of startups from 450 to 100,000 under PM Modi's tenure. This growth, he argued, reflects a vibrant economy as startups embody creativity and innovation.

Moreover, Subramanian emphasised that India's global innovation index ranking has improved from 78th in 2015 to 40th currently, indicating the importance of free thought for innovation. However, Rajan disagreed, citing indices from outside India showing a decline in democracy and criticising the current government's intolerance towards criticism.

In response, Subramanian defended Modi's government, stating that he had never been pressured to speak positively about it. He asserted his independence in expressing opinions based on conviction rather than obligation.

Subramanian also addressed concerns regarding religious freedom, citing a Pew Research Center survey where 90% of minorities reported feeling free to practice their religion in India. He then discussed the historical data on state government dismissals, revealing a significant disparity between past Congress-led governments and those led by Vajpayee and Modi, who had not dismissed any state governments under Article 356.

These discussions highlight a broader debate on the state of democracy in India and the role of government actions in shaping it. Despite differences in opinion, Subramanian's remarks provide a nuanced perspective on the subject, acknowledging both achievements and areas for improvement under Modi's leadership.