New Delhi, March 24 -- In an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proclaimed, "Criticism is the soul of democracy." He added, "If democracy truly runs in your veins, you must embrace it. In our scriptures, it is said, always keep your critics close. Critics should be your nearest companions because through genuine criticism, you can improve quickly and work democratically with better insights." These words were unexpected from the Prime Minister, as critics of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and his government feel that the experience of the past decade was in direct contrast to the values he claimed to espouse.

Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary for communications, expressed his dismay...