Highlights: PM Modi urges 140 crore Indians to buy ‘Made in India products’ at MP’s Dhar rally

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday and wished him "continued success in the service of the nation".

"Wishing Prime Minister @narendramodi a very happy birthday. May the year ahead be filled with good health, happiness, and continued success in the service of the nation," Tharoor said on X and shared pictures of him with PM Modi from the past.

Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also extended their greetings to Prime Minister Modi on his birthday.

Modi turned 75 on Wednesday, with a host of dignitaries and politicians lauding his leadership and the ruling BJP launching over-a-fortnight-long "Sewa Pakhwada" to mark his birthday.

The BJP-run governments at the Centre and states lined up an array of outreach, welfare, development and awareness programmes, ranging from health camps to cleanliness drive, get togethers of intellectuals and fairs to promote indigenous products across the country till October 2.

-PTI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday launched the 'Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan' by rolling out 20,324 health camps across the state, and said that it is a tribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday.

Adityanath said that the campaign, which will run for a fortnight, aims to make women's health a mass movement and will focus not only on screening and counselling but also on free treatment for women.

"The programme is being conducted by the health department through health camps in all districts where high-risk women will be screened for blood pressure, diabetes, oral and breast cancer, cervical cancer, anaemia and tuberculosis. Pregnant women will undergo health checkups and children will be immunised," he said.

He said 1.89 lakh Anganwadi centres across the state are also participating in the initiative to raise awareness among women, while more than 500 blood donation drives are being organised to encourage voluntary blood donation. Adityanath hailed PM Modi's leadership, calling him "one of the most visionary and popular leaders in the world" who has transformed every sector, from the economy and infrastructure to education, agriculture and social welfare.

"Under his inspiration, Uttar Pradesh has taken significant steps for women's empowerment over the past eight years -- from free education for girls to the Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana that provides Rs 25,000 from birth to graduation and financial aid of up to Rs 1 lakh for their wedding," he said.

The chief minister said the campaign seeks to connect every citizen of the state to the vision of a healthier and more empowered society. "Through this campaign, we want to bring about a comprehensive change in every citizen's life," he said, urging public participation. The CM said about 1 crore women are linked to 10 lakh self-help groups in rural areas, with another 10 lakh engaged in urban regions, helping build a self-reliant Uttar Pradesh and driving large-scale public awareness campaigns. Adityanath expressed confidence that the campaign will lead to significant health awareness and better outcomes for women, calling it "a step towards a stronger, healthier Uttar Pradesh inspired by the prime minister's vision".

-PTI

The PM's childhood friend from Vadnagar and classmate, Dashrathbhai Patel, said Modi dreamt of becoming the chief minister of Gujarat way back in 1969, more than three decades before he finally assumed the top office in 2001.

Referring to the prime minister's humble beginnings, he recalled how Modi, while still in school, would go from one compartment to another to sell tea to train passengers at Vadnagar railway station, where his father had a tea stall.

"Modi and I studied together, right from primary school in Vadnagar to college in Visnagar (in Mehsana district). We used to attend RSS shakhas (gatherings of swayamsevaks) together. Modi and his circle of friends once visited my farm, and we all enjoyed 'undhiyu', a delicacy from Surat. We also took part in school plays," he recollected.

"In 1969, Modi and I were walking past a small and dilapidated memorial of twin sisters and singers, Tana and Riri, in Vadnagar (PM's hometown). At that time, Modi told me he will restore the memorial after becoming chief minister. He kept that dream alive for many years. When he finally became CM (in 2001), he kept his promise and ordered the memorial's restoration," he said.

Dashrathbhai said his father used to run a shop at Vadnagar railway station, where Modi's father had a tea stall. In the last few years, the central and state governments have revamped the birthplace of PM Modi.

In 2021, Modi inaugurated the revamped Vadnagar railway station, where he had sold tea during his childhood. As Vadnagar station is a part of the heritage circuit, the tourism ministry spent Rs 8.5 crore to give a heritage look to the existing building and its entry gate.

A heritage school, now known as 'Prerna School', in Vadnagar, where Modi had his initial education, underwent a complete renovation and was inaugurated in January this year by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

An Archaeological Experiential Museum, which highlights Vadnagar's rich history, a cutting-edge sports complex and the redeveloped Sharmishtha lake are among the key development projects the town has witnessed during recent years. At present, a multi-modal transportation hub and public plaza is being developed opposite the Vadnagar railway station.

-PTI

Vadnagar, the hometown of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marked his 75th birthday with spirited celebrations, with his cousins living there adding a personal touch with warm wishes.

People of Vadnagar, a small town in Gujarat's Mehsana district, organised blood donation and eye check-up camps, prayers at the famous Hatkeshwar Mahadev temple, and a cleanliness campaign.

"A blood donation camp was held on Tuesday. PM Modi's elder brother Somabhai Modi organised an eye check-up health camp on Wednesday morning," Vadnagar BJP unit office-bearer Bhavesh Patel told PTI.

-PTI