August 16th has been a day marked by both joy and sorrow, witnessing events that shaped India and the world. From the passing of influential figures like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Elvis Presley to major discoveries and tragic incidents, this date carries historical weight.
Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi paid tributes at Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, and the National War Memorial in New Delhi on Sunday, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony scheduled for 7:15 PM today. He also visited Sadaiv Atal to honor former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Modi will become the first leader after Jawaharlal Nehru to be elected for a third consecutive term after completing the full tenure of each previous term. The ceremony is expected to be attended by leaders and state heads from the neighborhood and Indian Ocean region, including the President of Sri Lanka, the President of Maldives, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and the Prime Minister of Nepal, among others. Over 250 workers who contributed to the construction of the Parliament will also be present.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has lambasted the Narendra Modi-led BJP government, calling Mr. Modi the most arrogant leader in history. She praised former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh for prioritizing public welfare and criticized Mr. Modi’s focus on foreign diplomacy at the expense of public engagement. Priyanka highlighted the high unemployment rate, inflation, and vacant Central government posts under the current regime. She also censured Mr. Modi for his ‘idiotic’ claims about the Congress confiscating valuables and his irresponsible statements about the opposition.
