Letter: An unfavourable critique of the FT’s India coverage

I am writing to express my deep disappointment with the recent article entitled “Is the ‘cult of Modi’ losing its lustre?” (The Big Read, May 22).

The article is symptomatic of the manner in which the FT has been reporting on and analysing the Indian general election.

The report claims there are “massive welfare schemes branded in his name” in an apparent reference to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The reality however is that there is not a single central government-run scheme in India that is named after Modi; rather those schemes have a generic prefix with the title “Pradhan Mantri” or “Prime Minister”.

It is astonishing that the FT’s India-based reporters have so casually glossed over the manner in which past schemes were branded after members of the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Frivolous references to change of clothes and the cars used reflect the non-serious nature of the reporting.

In terms of economic performance, the critique of Modi’s “pro-business” approach fails to acknowledge that India’s gross domestic product growth rate remains one of the highest among major economies, outpacing both the US and EU.

The article’s portrayal of Modi’s image-building efforts as mere theatrics disregards the substantive impact of his communication strategy. Similar to how Franklin D Roosevelt utilised his “fireside chats” to engage citizens, Modi’s Mann Ki Baat (roughly “a word from the heart”) radio programme addresses critical issues ranging from water conservation to female empowerment.

Comparing Modi to an autocrat is both unfounded and diminishes the democratic processes that have brought him to power. Modi’s popularity and approval ratings are at an all-time high as measured by both domestic and international agencies.

In terms of economic indicators, India’s inflation rate, projected at 5.5 per cent for 2023, is relatively moderate compared to other major economies. Additionally, India’s employment growth as analysed in the India Employment Report 2024 released by the ILO observes a declining unemployment rate, increased labour market participation, relatively higher participation by women, the rise in self-employment and entrepreneurship and an overall improvement in the labour market.

FT reporters need to delve deeper into the realities on the ground in India for your reportage to succeed.

Shashi Shekhar Vempati
Former Chief Executive of Prasar Bharati (India’s Public Broadcaster),
New Delhi, India