Narendra Modi Urges National Unity During Dussehra Celebrations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Vijayadashami celebrations on October 20, 2026, at the DDA Utsav Ground and IP Extension Utsav Ground in New Delhi. After performing the traditional burning of a Ravana effigy, Modi urged political parties and national institutions to adopt a Nation First pledge and unite in the national interest. He identified three primary enemies of India: forces that harm the nation's honor, individuals who divide society, and a mindset hostile to Indian culture.

Modi linked the festival to his goals of a developed and self-reliant India, citing Ram Rajya as a model of governance based on justice, public welfare, and the elimination of discrimination. He emphasized that India must trust its own resources during crises rather than relying on others. As part of this cultural reclamation, he noted the recovery of 650 ancient idols from foreign countries over the last 12 years.

These calls for unity coincide with government efforts to secure a two-thirds majority for a delimitation-linked Women's Reservation Bill. While Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought a constructive role from the Indian National Congress, the Cockroach Janta Party and other opposition groups protested for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities. The Bharatiya Janata Party dismissed these protests as being orchestrated by foreign forces to spread anarchy. Separately, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta attended celebrations at Dwarka Sector 10 with President Droupadi Murmu, where she called for the elimination of corruption and atrocities against women.