The dawn of the next day brought a stark divide in global perspectives.
While the Indian press hailed Rohan as a visionary leader and celebrated the successful passage of the State Reorganization Bill, international newspapers painted a far grimmer picture.
Headlines from prominent publications across the globe read like indictments:
"India's Democracy Under Siege: A New Era of Authoritarianism" (The New York Times)
"Rohan's Iron Fist: The Death of Dissent in the World's Largest Democracy" (The Guardian)
"Political Purge or Progress? The Cost of Rohan's Vision for India" (Le Monde)
"India's Government Crosses the Line: Opposition Silenced" (BBC World).
The framing was clear, Rohan's decisive actions were seen not as reforms but as a descent into authoritarianism.
The nuance of India's internal challenges, the riots, and the misinformation campaigns were overshadowed by accusations of political repression.