evidence: Modi’s geopolitical gambits haven’t just put India in the global headlines for the wrong reasons. They’ve distracted his team from its economic-upgrade mandate. Modi’s shock move in August to strip Muslim-majority Kashmir of its special status was positively Trumpian. A controversial citizenship law that excludes Muslims is fueling protests around the nation. [...] The mere suggestion Modi’s India is going full circle—back to the tepid-growth days of the 1970s—is a bitter pill to swallow. Even if it does end up being hyperbole, there can be little doubt India isn’t where Modi boosters thought it would be in 2020. [...] In September 2016, Modi dumped globally respected economist Raghuram Rajan, but his repalcement Urjit Patel, it turned out, wasn’t compliant enough and by December 2018 was replaced by Shaktikanta Das. Since then, Das has steadily cut benchmark rates.