Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Tavleen Singh Sees Signs of Political Change in Delhi
Tavleen Singh says people in Delhi may be less afraid to criticize the government than they were before.
She believes fear grew after Narendra Modi became prime minister and was seen as a strong leader who did not welcome disagreement.
Singh says journalists, filmmakers and activists became more careful about what they said.
She points to two women journalists who shared videos of injuries after an encounter with the Delhi Police.
She also describes protests demanding action against a Hindutva activist.
Singh says these actions show that some people are speaking up again.
She notes that international democracy groups have criticized India’s democratic record.
She also says Modi’s recent social-media messages sound more forgiving and conciliatory.
However, she does not know whether this means he is abandoning his strongman approach.
Tavleen Singh says political conversations in Delhi have become less fearful in recent weeks.
Singh argues that Narendra Modi’s strongman image contributed to a climate of fear and constrained dissent.
Two Muslim women journalists publicly documented injuries they said resulted from treatment by the Delhi Police.
A Hindutva activist allegedly linked himself to influential Bharatiya Janata Party figures before retracting or qualifying his statement.
Singh says Modi’s recent social-media posts have adopted a more conciliatory tone, though she is unsure whether his governing style has fundamentally changed.
- Who
- Columnist Tavleen Singh, Narendra Modi, Delhi-based journalists, protesters and the Delhi Police are central to the account.
- What
- Singh describes what she sees as a new, less fearful political mood in Delhi and possible changes in Modi’s public discourse.
- When
- The reported change was observed in recent weeks, including during the past week described by Singh.
- Where
- Delhi, including Jantar Mantar and Parliament Street police station.
- Why
- Singh attributes the changing mood to people challenging intimidation more openly and to Modi using a more conciliatory tone in recent social-media posts.
- Writer
- Tavleen Singh
- Location
- Delhi, India
- Political figure discussed
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Reported public mood
- Singh’s contacts say people appear less afraid to speak openly.
- Media assessment
- Singh says the media became an early victim of strongman policies and that criticism of the government became risky.
- Democracy rankings cited
- Freedom House moved India from “free” to “partly free” five years ago; Singh also cites V-Dem’s assessment of declining liberal democracy.
- Recent communication
- Singh says Modi’s recent reels have taken a more conciliatory tone after an earlier post about Jantar Mantar protesters.