17 March 2025, New Delhi: On Sunday, the Congress party criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in a podcast with American computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman. The instance highlighted his avoidance of traditional press conferences favoring engaging with a foreign podcaster. Congress General Secretary for Communications, Jairam Ramesh, expressed his disapproval on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing the irony in Modi’s remarks about the importance of criticism in a democracy.
Ramesh pointed out that while the Prime Minister lauded criticism as the “soul of democracy” during the podcast, his actions have allegedly undermined institutions designed to hold the government accountable. He accused Modi of systematically dismantling these institutions and aggressively targeting critics. Ramesh’s post read: “He who is afraid of facing the media in a press conference has found comfort in a foreign podcaster anchored in the rightwing ecosystem. And he has the gall to say that ‘criticism is the soul of democracy’ when he has systematically gutted every institution that is to hold his Government accountable and gone after critics with a vengeance that no one in recent history has matched! There is no limit to Hypo(d)crisy.”
During the podcast, Prime Minister Modi discussed various topics, including his early life, the influence of Swami Vivekananda, his association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and various aspects of international relations. He addressed his diplomatic efforts concerning the Russia-Ukraine conflict, mentioning his communications with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urging them to pursue peace negotiations.
Modi also reflected on his relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump, drawing parallels between Trump’s “America First” policy and his own “India First” approach, underscoring a mutual emphasis on national priorities. He observed that in Trump’s current political endeavors, he appears more prepared and has a clear roadmap with well-defined steps toward his goals.
The Prime Minister credited the RSS for instilling in him a sense of purpose and values centered on selfless service, acknowledging the organization’s significant influence on his life and political journey.
The Congress party’s critique extends beyond Modi’s media engagements. They have also taken issue with his remarks on the 2002 Gujarat riots during the same podcast. Congress leaders accused the Prime Minister of deflecting responsibility and attempting to justify the violence that occurred during that period. Modi had contextualized the riots by referencing a series of terrorist attacks in India and abroad, including the 1999 Kandahar hijacking and the 2001 Parliament attack, asserting that Gujarat had a history of communal riots and has remained peaceful since 2002.
Congress leader Danish Ali interpreted Modi’s comments as an attempt to justify the riots, suggesting it reflected a failure of the then-Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led central government in handling law and order. Ali stated, “The way the PM has tried to justify the Godhra riots shows the failure of the Vajpayee government regarding law and order in the country.”
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat echoed this sentiment, recalling Vajpayee’s advice to Modi to uphold “rajdharma” (duty of governance) during the riots. Rawat emphasized that leaders must take responsibility during crises, implying that Modi’s remarks attempt to deflect such accountability.
In response to the Congress’s criticism, BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor accused the opposition of viewing the Prime Minister’s podcast through a political lens, suggesting that their critique stems from a biased perspective.
The discourse surrounding the Prime Minister’s participation in the podcast underscores the ongoing debate about media engagement, accountability, and the interpretation of historical events in India’s political landscape. While Modi’s supporters view his international engagements as a means to enhance India’s global image, critics argue that such appearances should not replace domestic accountability and transparent communication with the Indian media. Keep Reading Questiqa.in
Get more News Headlines At Our Social Platforms And Do Follow.
