PM Modi Turns 71; President Kovind, Ministers & Others Extend Wishes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 71 on Friday as President Ram Nath Kovind and other dignitaries and politicians greeted him with BJP leaders hailing his leadership.

Wishing him a long and healthy life, President Kovind said may he continue to serve the nation with his spirit of relentless service.

भारत के प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi को जन्मदिन की हार्दिक बधाई और शुभकामनाएं। मेरी शुभेच्‍छा है कि आप स्‍वस्‍थ रहें और दीर्घायु प्राप्‍त कर ‘अहर्निशं सेवामहे’ की अपनी सर्वविदित भावना के साथ राष्‍ट्र सेवा का कार्य करते रहें।

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 17, 2021

Home Minister Amit Shah lauded Modi, saying he not only gave the country the idea to think ahead of time and fulfil its resolve with hardwork but also made it a reality.

In Modi, the country has got a strong and decisive leader who gave a dignified life to those who were deprived of their rights for decades, he said.

Modi brought them in the mainstream of development, Shah added.

The prime minister has shown the world what people-loving leadership is like, he said.

देश के सर्वप्रिय नेता प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi जी को जन्मदिन की शुभकामनाएं। ईश्वर से आपके उत्तम स्वास्थ्य व सुदीर्घ जीवन की कामना करता हूँ।

मोदी जी ने न सिर्फ देश को समय से आगे सोचने और परिश्रम की पराकाष्ठा से संकल्प को सिद्ध करने की सोच दी बल्कि उसको चरितार्थ करके भी दिखाया।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 17, 2021

मोदी जी के रूप में देश को एक ऐसा सशक्त व निर्णायक नेतृत्व मिला है, जिसने दशकों से अपने अधिकारों से वंचित करोड़ों गरीबों को विकास की मुख्यधारा से जोड़कर न सिर्फ उन्हें समाज में गरिमामयी जीवन दिया बल्कि अपने अथक परिश्रम से विश्वभर को यह दिखाया कि एक प्रजावत्सल नेतृत्व कैसा होता है।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 17, 2021

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Modi has written many new chapters in development and good governance in his tenure so far and wished that he fulfil his dream of making India a strong, prosperous and proud country.

अपने अब तक के कार्यकाल में प्रधानमंत्रीजी ने विकास और सुशासन के कई नए अध्याय लिखे हैं। भारत को सशक्त, समृद्ध और स्वाभिमानी देश के रूप में विकसित करने का उनका स्वप्न पूरा हो, उनके जन्मदिन पर यही शुभकामना है। ईश्वर उन्हें उत्तम स्वास्थ्य एवं लम्बी आयु प्रदान करें।

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 17, 2021

Wishing PM Modi on his birthday, BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Jay Panda said that the PM has dedicated his life to serving people. "Today we celebrate his birthday by emulating him, serving the people through Seva Samarpan," he tweeted.

Outstanding orator, diehard nationalist, global statesman, the most popular & hardest working leader in the world, Prime Minister @narendramodi has dedicated his life to serving the public. Today we celebrate his birthday by emulating him, serving the people through #SevaSamarpan pic.twitter.com/uMdK2hzxy3

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) September 17, 2021

The Dalai Lama also wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 71st birthday and congratulated him on the growing confidence he had brought among the people, despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In his letter to the prime minster, the Dalai Lama also said that as the most populous democratic nation in the world, India's success benefits not only the people of the country, but also contributes to the development of the world as a whole. "I offer my heartfelt greetings to you on your birthday. May you continue to live a long and healthy life," he wished Modi.

Wish you happy birthday, Sri @narendramodi Ji.

Thank you for leading transformation of our nation, instilling hope in youth for a better tomorrow, lifting millions out of poverty & achieving our civilisational goals.

Sincere prayers for your health & longevity#HappyBdayModiji pic.twitter.com/ZFq8DBzdvd

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) September 16, 2021

To run a country like ours which is of close to a billion people & that too with such vast cultural,ethnic, linguistic, regional diversities is truly a great challenge.
(Cont..)

— Pawan Kalyan (@PawanKalyan) September 16, 2021

Born in Gujarat in 1950, Modi joined Hindutva organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at an early age and was later drafted into the BJP.

Made Gujarat chief minister in 2001, Modi has never suffered an electoral setback when votes were cast on his leadership, leading the BJP to power in the state for three consecutive terms and then at the Centre back to back in 2014 and 2019.

The BJP embarked on a mega 20-day public outreach, "Seva and Samarpan", from Friday to mark his 71st birthday and it will continue till October 7 to also commemorate his 20 years in public life, including as Gujarat chief minister.

It has asked its workers to facilitate the COVID-19 vaccination drive as it eyes record-breaking numbers on Friday.