New Delhi, Sep 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 75 on Wednesday, receiving warm greetings from dignitaries and political leaders as the BJP launched a fortnight-long “Sewa Pakhwada” to mark the occasion.
BJP governments at the Centre and in states have lined up welfare and outreach programmes until October 2, including health camps, cleanliness drives, intellectual meets, and fairs to promote indigenous products. Modi is visiting Dhar in Madhya Pradesh to inaugurate a nationwide campaign on women and child health and nutrition, along with other tribal-focused development projects, and will address a public gathering.
President Droupadi Murmu, hailing Modi’s journey from his humble beginnings in Gujarat’s Vadnagar, praised him for instilling a culture of setting and achieving great goals, saying the global community too trusts his leadership. Modi responded by reiterating his government’s commitment to building a strong, self-reliant India with the support of its 140 crore citizens.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Speaker Om Birla, and leaders across party lines lauded Modi’s vision and dedication. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh credited him with giving the nation new energy and direction, while Home Minister Amit Shah described him as a lifelong embodiment of the “nation first” motto and a symbol of sacrifice and transformation. BJP president J.P. Nadda, Union minister Nitin Gadkari, and several others echoed similar sentiments, highlighting his global stature and efforts to build an “Aatmanirbhar, Viksit Bharat.”
Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini recalled her long association with Modi, describing his tenure as transformative and his leadership as sensitive, simple, and deeply rooted. She shared personal memories of his support during her campaigns and cultural performances, calling it an honour to work under his guidance.
Modi is now the third-longest serving prime minister of India, after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and the second in terms of uninterrupted tenure. Since leading the BJP to its first Lok Sabha majority in 2014, he has transformed it into the country’s dominant political force. Despite the party’s setback in the 2024 general elections, Modi has since steered it to strong assembly victories in Haryana and Maharashtra, reaffirming his central role in Indian politics.
