Narendra Modi has launched a festival titled 'Seva Sankalp' to mark his 25 years as the head of government. This festival particularly commemorates October 7, 2001, when Modi was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for the first time.
Festival and Public Gatherings
India's Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, stated in a post on social media platform X: "25 years of service, dedication, good governance, and Modi's strong will are a testament to his service to the country." Several other BJP politicians echoed these sentiments and congratulated Modi for his service.
At the center of today's festivities is a cycling rally. A report from a news agency named ANI indicates that participants have cycled from the holy city of Varanasi to the holy city of Tirupati in southern India. A local minister from Uttar Pradesh announced that a group of 40 youth, who are also party officials, undertook a journey of 2000 kilometers after visiting the Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh, and a temple will soon be constructed in memory of this occasion.
Public Gatherings and Response to Protests
Several BJP-ruled states are organizing public gatherings where speeches by Modi and BJP President Nitin Nabin will be broadcast on large screens. These celebrations are reminiscent of the recent campaign for Modi's birthday on September 17. Critics at that time pointed to the government's substantial spending on public relations and advertising and urged people to save in light of the global conflict repercussions.
Images released from central Delhi on Wednesday morning showed a significant police presence, barricades, and rerouted traffic as officials anticipated a new wave of protests. This comes less than a day after leaders of the Indian opposition coalition marched towards the Election Commission of India to demand a meeting with the body regarding claims of 'vote theft'.
This march soon turned into a protest meeting that ultimately led to the arrest of several leaders, including opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and his sister, Priyanka Vadra. They were later released. Gandhi stated, "We just want to approach the election commissioners, ask them questions, and tell them that you have stolen the votes."
On Wednesday morning, officials again issued a prohibition order under Indian laws that bans speeches, slogans, and public gatherings. This action is regularly taken to prevent the gathering of protesters and allows police to detain protesters for disturbing public peace.
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