India could never be authoritarian for one simple reason its too damn diverse, a country that is contradictory to every definition of nation state exists because it has adopted democracy how ever imperfectly and mastered elections.
Don't get complacent. The man in power has never lost an election, so I don't know if he knows how to lose with grace. What's more, he has very authoritarian tendencies, like intimidating the press[1].
[1] - https://thewire.in/media/punya-prasun-bajpai-abp-news-narend...
The current government has not brought in any new laws or regulations on press. India never had the journalistic freedom like in west.
The opponent of current PM is a political royalty of India. They are the ones who dont know how to live without power. Indira Gandhi suspended Indian democracy and assumed the titled of dictator for few years when she lost an election. She also jailed many people including many political leaders that are still active today. Her son engaged in forced sterelizations and another son brought in a bill to kill the press called "defamation bill". Luckily it was repealed.
The current PM by far is a strict improvement on anyone we has seen in past.
The current PM came up with demonetization. Arguably the single worst idea in India's economic history since Tuglaq's copper coins. This is despite the central bank strongly advising against it. The RBI's governor even quit because of the government's meddling.
The current government decided to suppress inconvenient NSSO jobs data leading the head of the National Statistical Comission to quit in protest of the politicization of the institution.
The current government tried to take over control of independent tribunals by a backdoor 'money bill'. Thank goodness the Supreme Court put an end to that.
The central government acting through its appointed state governors has repeatedly tried to snatch power from opposition parties with democratically won majorities. The judiciary had to step in time and again to stop this.
The current government has lowered the standard of public discourse where any criticism of the government is immediately labelled 'Anti-National'. The government has shamelessly politicized military actions and is now resorting to jingoism to boost it's electoral prospects. Hell, a former chief minister was caught on camera admitting as much.
The authoritarian tendencies of the dear leader are as clear as day. But sure, please tell me how Modiji is bringing us all Achhe Din. Oh, wait. Even the BJP has stopped talking about Acche Din now.
But as far as authoritarianism and tyrannical attitude is concerned Modi does not even belong in the same league as congress party.
Congress party has done everything you have listed and lot more. Tell me if any Modi move comes even half close to what the Congress party did.
1. Took over 25% school capacity from all private schools and enforced severe restrictions in the form of RTE. This alone has closed down 10k + schools in India.
2. Created 100% exemption for Christians and Muslims run private/publicly funded schools from above point 1. They even went to amend Indian constitution (93rd) to create this blatantly bigoted scheme.
3. Congress create NGT National Green Tribunal. A body that reports, investigates and delivers punishment for anything related to environment, their decision can not be challenged in any court. Congress party has made millions through this body. I remember in a particular case where NGT fined this gentleman around Rs 3 crores for building water canals on his own private property. When his representative asked the NGT body "where is the evidence that I have done any harm to environment?" NGT simply stated that they need not provide any evidence at all.
> The central government acting through its appointed state governors has repeatedly tried to snatch power from opposition parties with democratically won majorities.
That is however is not at all true in even a single case. Using governors as thugs was Congress party's modus operandi and now being normalized. BJP government has not snatched any state from a majority party ever, not even once. Congress party on other hand has used their appointed Supreme Court judges to snatch Karnataka from BJP.
I am no fan of Narendra Modi, I personally dislike him for failing to undo the damage Congress party has done to Education related laws. But putting him in the bracket of "authoritarianism" is nothing but elitist snobbery. It is something that a convent educated cheese eating wine drinking socialite from Delhi or South Bombay might easily buy into but not an actually grassroot level worker.