PM Modi turns 76; leaders hail 25 years of public service
New Delhi, Sept 17 (TNT): Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 76 on Thursday, with President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan, Union ministers, chief ministers and foreign leaders extending birthday greetings and highlighting his 25 years in public life.
Modi, born on September 17, 1950, in Gujarat’s Vadnagar, completes 25 uninterrupted years in public office on October 7.
He first became Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001 and assumed office as Prime Minister in 2014.
President Murmu highlighted Modi’s record in governance, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah recalled his journey from a BJP volunteer to the country’s highest political office.
Vice-President Radhakrishnan credited Modi with presiding over India’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu congratulated Modi and said his journey from Gujarat Chief Minister to Prime Minister had given a “new momentum” to India’s growth story.
He also called for stronger farmers, river-linking and a national power grid.
Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla extended birthday greetings to Modi on behalf of the people of Telangana and wished him good health, strength and long life.
He also greeted the Prime Minister on completing 25 years in public service.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy conveyed his birthday wishes to Modi and wished him good health, happiness, prosperity and a long life.
NDA leaders gather in Varanasi
Several senior NDA leaders and chief ministers gathered in Prime Minister Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi on Thursday as part of the birthday celebrations.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu were among the leaders participating in the programmes.
The celebrations coincide with the launch of the BJP’s month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, being held from September 17 to October 17 to mark Modi’s 25 years in public service.
Yogi Adityanath said the Seva Sankalp Yatra, launched on Modi’s birthday, would pass through 10 states and highlight the significance of Kashi and the work associated with the Prime Minister.
A major feature of the celebrations is the Seva Sankalp Bike Yatra, with a rally being flagged off from Varanasi towards Vadnagar in Gujarat, Modi’s birthplace. A parallel rally will travel from Vadnagar towards Varanasi.
NDA leaders including Chirag Paswan and Apna Dal leader Anupriya Patel are associated with the celebrations, while Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel are scheduled to participate in programmes in Vadnagar.
Putin, Trump extend greetings
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump also extended birthday greetings to Modi.
Putin praised Modi’s contribution to strengthening the India-Russia strategic partnership and said the Prime Minister enjoyed deep respect among his compatriots and authority on the global stage.
The US Embassy in India, conveying Trump’s greetings, wished Modi health and happiness in the coming year.
Modi thanks people for birthday wishes
Modi thanked people across the country for their affection and blessings on his birthday.
In a post on X, he said some gestures were particularly special and deeply touched him, referring to ‘Ashirwad Ka Diya’ as one such expression of affection.
The Prime Minister said every blessing strengthened his resolve to serve the people of India with greater devotion.
TNT TS
