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Modi's statement about welcoming criticism sounds democratic, but the real test lies in how his supporters and party machinery handle it. When comedians, journalists, or even ordinary citizens data-face backlash—including vandalism—for merely expressing dissent, it exposes the gap between rhetoric and reality.A leader's true strength isn’t in avoiding or suppressing criticism but in engaging with it constructively. If a political figure claims to welcome criticism but their ecosystem reacts with hostility, it raises the question: Is the leader truly open to scrutiny, or is this just another political soundbite?The vandalism of a studio over a critical comedy act isn’t an isolated event—it’s part of a larger, disturbing pattern where dissent is met with intimidation rather than debate. The question isn’t just whether this is the work of a few rogue elements, but whether these so-called "fringe" reactions are actively enabled by a climate of intolerance cultivated from the top.Time and again, we’ve seen comedians, journalists, artists, and activists targeted for speaking their minds. If it were just a fringe reaction, the leadership would swiftly condemn it and ensure accountability. But when silence—or, worse, subtle justifications—follows such incidents, it signals something more alarming: a system where criticism is unwelcome, and fear is the preferred tool to suppress it.Modi’s claim of welcoming criticism rings hollow when the ground reality suggests otherwise. True leadership isn’t about controlling the narrative through intimidation; it’s about engaging with dissent and proving one’s strength through dialogue, not destruction. If criticism cannot be data-faced without resorting to vandalism and threats, then perhaps the so-called "56-inch chest" is more myth than reality.
