Touchy feelings over Modi

Whether it is an imminent downgrade by a global rating firm or a comment from a global media house, Indians tend to be extraordinarily sensitive to foreign opinion of their country, especially criticism. A case in point is the reaction to a leader titled "Can Anyone Stop Narendra Modi?" in the British newspaper The Economist on April 5.

The Economist had argued that the former Gujarat chief minister may be headed for prime ministership but he is not a good choice principally on account of his handling of the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat when he was chief minister. Till April 8, the article has attracted a record number of comments at over 2,300, much of it invective against the piece, the paper or both. Interestingly, though, the reaction on Facebook is quite different: the article has attracted more than 26,000 "likes", though not all the comments were complimentary.