Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 75 on Wednesday, with leaders from all political parties extending best wishes to him, and the BJP launching a two-week-long "Sewa Pakhwada" to commemorate the occasion.
BJP-led governments at the Centre and in states have planned an assortment of programmes until October 2, which include health camps, sanitation drives, intellectual conventions, and fairs for rural products.
On his part, Modi is visiting Dhar in Madhya Pradesh to inaugurate a nationwide drive focused on women and child health and nutrition. He will also unveil several other initiatives, with special emphasis on tribal communities, and address a public rally.
"Heartfelt birthday greetings and best wishes to the Prime Minister of India, Shri @narendramodi ji. By exemplifying the pinnacle of hard work through your extraordinary leadership, you have instilled a culture of achieving great goals in the country," she said.
In response, Modi said his government remained committed to building a strong, self-reliant India with the support of its 140 crore citizens, calling Murmu’s vision “inspirational.”Vice President CP Radhakrishnan highlighted that India was steadily advancing towards becoming a developed nation under Modi’s leadership, while Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said his “unparalleled dedication and commitment” was an inspiration to all Indians.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave credit to Modi for injecting "new energy" and direction into the country, projecting India as a strong global player, and laboring day and night for the poor. Home Minister Amit Shah, in a series of tweets on X, called Modi a "symbol of sacrifice and commitment," and one who personifies the slogan of 'country first.'
Shah reminisced about his decades-long affiliation with Modi, observing, "Modi has always put the country first and himself last. Workers like me have been privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him in all the assignments he has taken up." He also applauded the PM's contribution to changing lives and making India's journey towards a developed and self-sufficient country.
BJP president JP Nadda stated that Modi has made "many transformative steps to develop an 'aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat,'" and Union minister Nitin Gadkari termed him the "world's most popular leader" and hoped for a self-reliant India and a "vishwaguru" under his leadership.
Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini joined in the tributes, describing Modi’s tenure as a “transformative period that positioned India as a global power.” In a video message, the Mathura MP recalled her association with him from his Gujarat days, sharing that he once attended her ballet performance at the Brij Raj Utsav for over two hours as chief guest, something she described as a great honour. "Very few people are so sensitive, down-to-earth and grounded," she said, adding that she felt lucky to have started her career in public service under his patronage.
Modi is now India's third longest-serving prime minister, behind Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and second longest-serving in terms of uninterrupted tenure. Whereas Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani had at one point placed the BJP as the Congress's principal opponent, Modi has made the party the undisputed political force since 2014, achieving its first-ever Lok Sabha majority.
Although the BJP fell short of the halfway mark in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it has bounced back strongly under Modi’s leadership, registering significant victories in assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra.
