Harish Salve urges critique of government, not denigration of India

Former Solicitor General and senior advocate Harish Salve warned that while criticism of the Indian government is essential in a democracy, citizens should avoid denigrating the nation’s image, especially on social media. Speaking at the AK Sen Memorial Lecture and Photograph Unveiling Ceremony organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association, Salve highlighted India’s growing global respect, noting its status as the world’s fourth‑largest economy.

Salve urged that “trenchant criticisms within India of the government and its institutions is necessary to keep the government in control,” but cautioned that such discourse must not come at the cost of the country’s reputation abroad. The event also featured Chief Justice of India Surya Kant unveiling a portrait of the late senior advocate and former Union Law Minister A. K. Sen, with senior members of the legal fraternity in attendance.