Call for Modi's retirement intensifying from within BJP

A growing leadership crisis and internal rifts have surfaced within India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as Prime Minister Narendra Modi facing increasing pressure to retire amid criticism of his policies.

As Modi nears the age of 75, calls for his retirement are intensifying from within the party, raising concerns about his continued role and the future direction of the BJP. 

Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has publicly questioned Modi's relevance on the international stage, stating that the Prime Minister should not attend the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China this September.

Swamy cited China's occupation of disputed territories in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, calling it a "covert enemy" of India and arguing that Modi’s scheduled retirement renders his representation unjustified.

Swamy further added that Modi, once hailed as the "Vishwaguru" or global teacher, has now become a liability for his own party due to what he described as a string of failed policies. This internal criticism underscores a broader sense of unease within the BJP ranks, as the party grapples with leadership succession and ideological cohesion in the run-up to Modi’s expected exit.