Current crisis consolidates populist rapport between a leader and a fictional representation of people

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-covid-19-coronavirus-lockdown-narendra-modi-6383721/

Current crisis consolidates populist rapport between a leader and a fictional representation of people

APRIL 29, 2020 9:25:21 AM

While the 2016 demonetisation was about requesting sacrifices from citizens to eradicate the black money of the corrupt wealthy lot, the “people’s curfew”, “imposed by the people” — in Modi’s own words — was similar in scope, as it demanded “sacrifices” “in service of the nation.”