New Delhi/Lucknow/Puducherry/Dharamshala/Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 72 on Saturday, with politicians and dignitaries extending their best wishes to him. Modi's birthday is often marked with development initiatives while the BJP launches 'seva' (service) activities.
It was no different this year as he will speak at four programmes linked to diverse fields, including the release of cheetahs brought from Namibia at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Wishing him, President Droupadi Murmu said the work for nation-building under his incomparable hard work, dedication and creativity continue to advance.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar greeted him, saying his transformative vision and inspirational leadership have elevated 'Bharat' to newer heights of glory. Modi's ministerial colleagues paid fulsome tributes to his leadership and administrative acumen. Opposition leaders, including Congress' Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar of the NCP, Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, also wished him.
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Saturday wished Modi by tweeting "On the occasion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's seventy-second birthday I have written to him to offer my warmest good wishes and prayers for his continued good health."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi by tweeting, "Wishing PM Narendra Modi a happy birthday." Home Minister Amit Shah hailed him as the flag-bearer of Indian culture who has connected the country to its roots and led it forward in every field.
Under his farsighted leadership, India has emerged as a world power and he has distinguished himself as a global leader respected by the world, Shah said. Modi's life symbolises service and dedication, he said, calling him the builder of a secure, strong and 'Aatmanirbhar' new India.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said his leadership has boosted progress and good governance like never before and taken India's prestige and self-respect to a new high. Singh said he has given a new dimension to Indian politics and importance to the welfare of the poor along with development.
An RSS pracharak from a young age, Modi was drafted into the BJP's organisation and later became Gujarat chief minister in 2001. Since then, he has achieved the unique feat of never losing the state, and now national election when he has been the face of the party. He led the BJP to win in three consecutive Gujarat Assembly polls in 2002, 2007 and 2012 and in the Lok Sabha polls in 2014 and 2019.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati extended their wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday. In a tweet, Adityanath said, "Heartiest greetings to respected Prime Minister @narendramodi, the architect of 'Ek Bharat-Shreshth Bharat', constantly engaged in the worship of the nation for 'Antyodaya'!. May Lord Shri Ram give long life and good health to the respected prime minister, the supreme worshipper of Maa Bharti."
Mayawati, his her tweet, wished Modi a healthy and long life. An RSS pracharak from a young age, Modi was drafted into the BJP's organisation and later became the chief minister of Gujarat in 2001. Since then, he has achieved the unique feat of never losing the state and now the national election when he has been the face of the party.
He led the BJP to win in three consecutive Gujarat assembly polls in 2002, 2007 and 2012 and then in the Lok Sabha polls in 2014 and 2019. Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he was "extremely happy to extend warm greetings to a truly visionary leader whom the nation is proud to have at the critical juncture."
"Your guidance and consistent efforts are exactly what the present generation needs today. My sincere thanks for your endeavours in shaping India as a world leader." He said that on his behalf and also on that of the people of Puducherry, he wished the Prime Minister many more years of happy and healthy life for benefitting the nation.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday and wished him good health. "Warm greetings to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji on birthday. Wishing you good health and long life," Patnaik said on Twitter. (with Agency inputs)
