PM Modi turns 73; birthday wishes pour in

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 73 on Sunday, with President Droupadi Murmu and other dignitaries and politicians extending their best wishes to him.

The BJP has started "Sewa Pakhwara" from today till October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, to reach out to different sections of society with a host of welfare initiatives to mark the birthday of its preeminent leader.

Extending best wishes, the President said she wished that Modi with his foresight and strong leadership paves the way for India's development in every field during the 'Amrit Kaal'.

Lauding the prime minister as the architect of new India, Home Minister Amit Shah said he has laid a strong foundation of a grand and self-reliant India on the basis of the country's ancient heritage.

"Be it the party organisation or the government, we always get inspiration of national interest being supreme from Modi ji," he said, adding that he considered it his good fortune to serve the country under such a unique leader.

The prime minister has brought prosperity and confidence in the lives of crores of Indians through his foresight, hard work and selfless service, Shah said, adding that he personifies a rare combination of leadership, sensitivity and hard work.  

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi also greeted Modi.

"My best wishes to PM Shri Narendra Modi ji on his birthday. May he be blessed with good health and long life," Kharge said on X.

Many chief ministers belonging to different parties, including Yogi Adityanath, Nitish Kumar, Siddharamaiah and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, posted on X birthday wishes to Modi.

Wishing him, BJP president J P Nadda said the prime minister has given tangible shape to Indian culture's global prestige, people's multi-dimensional development and the nation's universal progress.

Our goal of "antyodaya" (uplift of the most downtrodden) has reached every village and every section of society and has become the mantra for the resolve of having a developed India, Nadda said on X.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Modi has not given merely a new identity to India but also enhanced its prestige in the world.

The prime minister has taken India's development to new heights, he said, wishing him a good health and long life.

BJP members and Modi's admirers participated in a host of activities, including yagna and puja, cleanliness drive, plantation and distribution of food items among the poor, on the day.

The prime minister himself will be part of the launch of several development initiatives on his birthday. 

With 'Vishwakarma Jayanti' falling on Sunday as well, Modi launched his government's ambitious scheme, "PM Vishwakarma", which is aimed at helping artisans and craftsmen and others engaged in traditional skills on the occasion. 

As practitioners of these traditional occupations come largely from Other Backward Classes, the scheme with an outlay of Rs 13,000 crore is also being seen as the ruling BJP's outreach to the politically important segment.

Earlier, he inaugurated the first phase of the India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC), named Yashobhoomi, in Dwarka and also the extension of the Delhi Airport Metro Express line from Dwarka Sector 21 to a new metro station at Dwarka Sector 25 as well on Sunday.