World leaders love dictators. You get to talk and negotiate with one person who can meet your demands, instead having to appease a whole nation. That's why Musharaf was so popular.
The article talks about the potential for India to slide into fascism.
It is definitely something to be concerned about but the things Modi is doing (stoking attacks on Muslims) is marginally better than what the CCP are doing (forced reeducation camps).
The west is happy to turn a blind eye to China, Modi would have to do a lot worse for any reaction from the west.