Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 67th birthday will be celebrated as 'Seva Diwas' (File)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 67th birthday will be observed as "Seva Diwas" across the country. BJP leaders and ministers will attend medical camps, blood donation events and take part in cleanliness drives. BJP chief Amit Shah will be in Ranchi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi, Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar in Mumbai and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal will be in Chennai to celebrate the Prime Minister's birthday as a "day of service" (Seva Diwas). Many other ministers and party leaders will attend the events nationwide.
Here are the highlights on 'Seva Diwas':
Manohar Parrikar pledges to devote 100 hrs in a year for cleanlinessGoa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has pledged to devote at least 100 hours in a year for cleanliness activities on 'Seva Diwas', being observed today to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 67th birthday.
Parrikar took oath to devote at least 100 hours every year towards cleanliness drive and programmes with maximum two hours per day.
Union Minister Maneka Gandhi talks about PM Modi's Ganga Clean-Up
Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi tweeted saying it was the citizens' duty to commit to the 'Swachhta Hi Seva' initiative.
She also said the citizens should look at the example that PM Modi had set by spearheading the Ganga Clean-Up.
Minister Hardeep Puri tweets a Mahatma Gandhi quote on cleanliness
Minister of State for Housing, Hardeep Puri quoted Mahatma Gandhi on cleanliness. He tweeted, "So long as you do not take the broom and the bucket in your hands, you cannot make your towns and cities clean" -Gandhiji #SwachhataHiSewa
Indian Railways joins 'Swachhta Hi Seva' campaign
The 'Swachhta Hi Seva' campaign was given a boost by the Indian Railways in different parts of the country.
At Pratapnagar station, a Divisional Railway Manager (Vadodra)-led team of scouts and guides started to clean up the station.
Officers and staff at Ahmedabad station also participated in the 'Swachhta Hi Seva' campaign.
At Sabarmati station in Gujarat, the Divisional Railway Manager of Ahmedabad led a clean up drive as well.
Apart from this, the Divisional Railway Manager at Rajkot also carried out intensive cleaning operations.
Navy takes a 'Swachh Bharat' challenge head-on
The navy took on a challenge on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday and 'Seva Diwas'.
Navy personnel in South Mumbai went to the South Mumbai sea-front and took to cleaning the waste strewn around the mangroves.
Sachin Tendulkar, Shikhar Dhawan and Anil Kapoor send their wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Many celebrities took to Twitter to wish Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday.
Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar tweeted an image of himself with the Prime Minister and said in the tweet, "Sending best wishes and many happy returns of the day to our honourable PM @narendramodi ji. Happy Birthday, Sir!"
Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan also tweeted his wishes, saying, "Happy birthday Modiji! You deserve a day off on your birthday. Thank u fr d constant progress and devlpment of d country @narendramodi"
Actor Anil Kapoor also took to Twitter to wish the Prime Minister. He said, "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way & shows the way" Here's celebrating the force driving India to greatness! @narendramodi ji"
Ministers across party lines wish Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday
Many Congress leaders today wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 67th birthday.
Leaders including Congress party Vice President Rahul Gandhi, party leaders Shashi Tharoor, Amarinder Singh, Manish Tewari and Sachin Pilot wished Prime Minister Modi.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi tweeted his wishes saying, "Best wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modiji on his birthday. @narendramodi".
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also tweeted saying, "Wishing @narendramodi ji a very happy birthday. Best wishes for a healthy & happy life. @PMOIndia".
Congress leader Sachin Pilot wished PM Modi in a tweet, saying "Wishing Prime Minister @narendramodi ji a very happy birthday. May you have a long and a healthy life."
Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, also tweeted saying, "Wishing our Prime Minister @narendramodi many happy returns of the day. May God grant @PMOIndia joy&blessings on his birthday"
Ministers and others participate in 'Seva Diwas' events across the country
Union ministers and others participated and commemorated 'Seva Diwas' and 'Swachhta Hi Seva' programmes and events across the country.
Defence Minister Nirmala Seetharaman participated in a 'Seva Diwas' event in Delhi Cantonment & Gopinath Bazaar area.
Shramdan led by Divisional Railway Manager, Rajkot Division of Western Railways also took place to take up the Swachhta Hi Seva initiative.
BJP National President Amit Shah tweeted saying 'Seva' is the "best way" to celebrate Prime Minister Modi's birthday.
Sudarsan Pattnaik unveils new sand artTo mark the Swachhta Hi Sewa campaign, Sudarsan Pattnaik unveiled new sand art at Puri beach in Odisha. He tweeted his new work, wishing Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday.
Minister of State for Housing Hardeep Puri administers 'Swachhta' pledge to Municipal workers
During the Swachhta Hi Sewa event, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri administered a 'Swachhta' pledge to municipal workers and others.
He also urged everyone to make 'Swachh Bharat' a 'personal mission'. Mr Puri also said Rs 300 crore had been given to municipalities for the proper implementation of work under the 'Swachh Bharat' mission.
'Swachhta Hi Sewa' campaign and 'Seva Diwas' kicks off in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 67th birthday is being celebrated as 'Seva Diwas' and this campaign is a part of a larger campaign known as 'Swachhta Hi Sewa' which was launched by the central government on the 15th of September and will continue for a fortnight till the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, on the 2nd of October.
To mark the occasion of 'Seva Diwas' and the 'Swachhta Hi Sewa' campaign, the Minister of State (MoS) for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri launched a cleanliness drive in the Sarojini Nagar area of New Delhi.
The Minister also interacted with New Delhi Municipal Corporation officials and staff during the cleanliness drive.
Wishes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi have begun pouring in
Wishes have started pouring in for Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 67th birthday. Many took to Twitter to wish the Prime Minister on his birthday.
Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh tweeted his wishes to the Prime Minister and said, "Birthday wishes to Shri @narendramodi ji. His leadership and tenacity has immensely benefited the nation. I pray for his long & healthy life."
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje tweeted her wishes saying, "Warm wishes to our leader, PM @Narendermodi ji. Your monumental contribution to the Indian motherland is exemplary and inspiring."
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi also tweeted saying, "I proudly join the Nation in wishing our dynamic PM Shri @narendramodi ji on his birthday. #HappyBirthdayPM