To outsiders, it's a democracy because they've been told that.
To Modi bhakts it's a democracy because they are in power.
To regular people, it's very clear it's a democracy like Russia is a democracy. The govt pays large amounts of people to misinform the populace online. The government uses martial law to impose Internet lockdown for over a year on any citizens who resist govt's crimes against them. There's no free press (check press freedom indices), without which democracy is in name only.
While I agree with parts of your comment, I don't think it is honest.
> The govt pays large amounts of people to misinform the populace online.
Are they using state apparatus to do that? Isn't this true in most parts of world now. The whole Brexit campaign was fueled by misinformation.
> There's no free press (check press freedom indices), without which democracy is in name only.
I have read a lot of outlets from India which are anti establishment. Though I definitely think the press freedoms are nowhere at the level of some countries.
> The government uses martial law to impose Internet lockdown for over a year on any citizens who resist govt's crimes against them.
I think this refers to Kashmir. While I don't support the restriction and definitely heavy handed and it wouldn't have been possible in say a country like US now. I think you are triviliazing the situation when you think all the "resistance" is against government crimes.
While I don't like censorship of any form, if that violates Play Store or AppStore's TOS, the violating app would get removed.