India's opposition protests pile pressure on Modi government

On Wednesday, October 7, India witnessed a protest clouding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic 25-year milestone in office. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) initiated a campaign, "Seva Sankalp," to celebrate Modi's tenure as prime minister and chief minister of Gujarat. India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh praised Modi for his service, dedication, good governance, and strong willpower. BJP politicians echoed his sentiments, congratulating him on his service.

A significant event of the day was a bike rally where 40 youths from Tirupati in southern India, loaded onto bikes, arrived in Varanasi in northern India after covering 2,000 km. This journey included visits to various holy sites like the Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh. Several BJP-ruled states organized public gatherings, where speeches by Modi and BJP president Nitin Nabin would be telecast on large screens.

However, the celebrations were overshadowed by opposition protests demanding answers from the Election Commission of India over allegations of "vote theft." The opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Vadra, marched on the Election Commission, leading to a sit-in and subsequent detainment by police. Authorities issued prohibitory orders to prevent further gatherings and maintain public peace.

With these events unfolding, the milestone day for Prime Minister Narendra Modi might be marred by political unrest and allegations.