As his country overtakes China as the world\u2019s most populous, Narendra Modi\u2019s Hindu nationalist government is escalating its attack on civil rights<\/p>\n
India has many things going for it these days but the growing authoritarianism of prime minister Narendra Modi\u2019s rightwing Hindu nationalist government is not one of them. The economy has rebounded faster than most after the Covid-19 slump, according to the IMF and the World Bank<\/a>. Annual GDP is projected to overtake Germany and Japan<\/a> by 2027, making India the world\u2019s third largest economy after the US and China.<\/p>\n UN figures<\/a> published last week indicate India will become the planet\u2019s most populous country<\/a> by June, with a population of 1.4286 billion compared with China\u2019s 1.4257 billion. The significance of this shift is geopolitical as well as economic. In a world dominated by great power rivalries and blocs, India stands out as an independent force in global affairs, drawing on a proud post-1947 history of non-alignment. Contrasted with the creaking economies, fading influence and ageing populations of western countries such as Britain, the former colonial power\u2019s future looks bright indeed. Yet all this potential is set at risk by Modi\u2019s divisive<\/a> and destructive actions. He and his ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) pose a fundamental threat to that other crucial pillar of Indian progress: democratic governance based on the rule of law, civil rights and freedom of speech.<\/p>\n