Emotional Intelligence is actually a great tool for leadership - and the best part is that it can be developed.
In the Indian context, while Indians are very emotional, they are not 'emotionally intelligent', as the emotions are focussed towards themselves, to fulfil their basic needs. A common example is the way we sweep out the garbage from our houses to the streets. We see ourselves alone as 'special', and not the world we live in.
While this is not to say that the developed countries are any better; they are experts in sweeping the garbage out of their countries to countries like India - because we accept that!
We have a lot of latent leadership potential in India despite this lack of emotional intelligence, because we have abundant 'Spirtual Intelligence'. This Spiritual Intelligence more than makes up for the deficit in EI and also makes us superior to the so called 'Emotionally Intelligent' leaders.
No wonder then, despite all odds, we as a nation are still in the reckoning as a potential 'Super Power'.
All this is still no excuse to say that we dont require to be emotionally intelligent! Where is the harm in imbibing something that has a proven advantage - this way we can beat 'them' in their own game, and prove to be better leaders in every sphere!