NEW DELHI: Congress party on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in a podcast with computer scientist Lex Fridman, pointing out his reluctance to hold press conferences whilst engaging with a US podcaster.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary for communications, contested the prime minister’s statement about “criticism is the soul of democracy” during the podcast. He accused PM Modi of destroying institutions meant for government accountability and targeting critics aggressively.
“He who is afraid of facing the media in a press conference has found comfort in a foreign podcaster anchored in the rightwing ecosystem,” Ramesh wrote on X.
The Congress leader further said: “And he has the gall to say that “criticism is the soul of democracy” when he has systematically gutted every institution that is to hold his Government accountable and gone after critics with a vengeance that no one in recent history has matched! There is no limit to Hypo(d)crisy.”
During his conversation with American computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman, PM Modi discussed various topics including his early life, Swami Vivekananda’s influence, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and international relations.
PM Modi discussed his diplomatic efforts with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding peace negotiations. He also spoke about his relationship with US President Donald Trump, noting similarities between Trump’s “America First” position and his own “India First” stance, emphasising their focus on national priorities.
“I have observed President Trump both during his first term and now in his second run. This time, he seems far more prepared than before. He has a clear roadmap in his mind with well-defined steps, each one designed to lead him toward his goals,” he said. Modi expressed gratitude for receiving his life’s purpose and values of selfless service from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the spiritual foundation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).