Political commentator Dhruv Rathee celebrated India’s 79th Independence Day in an unconventional style—by wakesurfing with the national flag in hand. Sharing the video on Instagram, Rathee wore a traditional kurta-pyjama, replacing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s tuxedo-and-beer look from his viral U.S. Independence Day videos. Instead of the American flag and holiday beer, Rathee proudly waved the tricolour as he glided over the waves.
Zuckerberg’s festive wakesurfing has become a quirky 4th of July tradition since 2021, with variations each year. Rathee’s version swapped Western pomp for Indian tradition, channeling the visual spectacle while giving it a patriotic twist.
In his caption, Rathee coupled the stunt with a pointed political message. “Happy Independence Day! We must protect the freedom and democracy that our freedom fighters fought so hard for. Speak up against Vote Chori! Speak up for the Nation! Jai Hind!” he wrote, referring to the Opposition’s allegations against the ruling party.
The “vote chori” controversy was reignited on August 7 when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of “choreographing” the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to benefit the BJP. He claimed the party appeared “immune to anti-incumbency.”
In response, the Congress and INDIA bloc launched nationwide protests, including marches, signature drives, and torchlight rallies. Gandhi and several opposition leaders were detained on August 11 during a march to the EC office in Delhi. Simultaneous demonstrations were staged in states such as Karnataka, Telangana, and Chandigarh, with the Indian Youth Congress rallying outside the EC headquarters.