India, May 16 -- The critics were quick off the mark. Barely a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood before a gathering in Secunderabad and asked Indians to drive less, buy less gold, postpone weddings abroad, and work from home - a call to austerity framed as "economic patriotism" - he boarded Air India One for a five-nation tour. The irony was too tempting for the opposition to pass up.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from India Blooms....