New Delhi: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 71 Friday, the country celebrated by vaccinating a record 2.5 crore people against the Covid-19 virus while the BJP began 20-day event to serve the poor all over the country.
The total number of daily Covid-19 vaccinations in India Friday crossed a whopping two crore mark. Earlier in the day, India broke its own record of 1.33 crore daily vaccination record.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya celebrated the administration of over two crore vaccines in a single day across the country with health workers at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.
"Thanks to all health workers. Well done India!," Madaviya said
Meanwhile, the BJP started an event that will last from September 17, Modi's birthday, till October 7, the day when he first became Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001. The event is being organised in BJP offices in the different states and cities across the country. As part of this, blood donation camps will be held and food and medicines will be distributed among the poor. Senior party leaders and union ministers have been sent to their respective constituencies to oversee the arrangements for this event.
At the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, a photo exhibition depicting the political and social journey of Modi was inaugurated by party president JP Nadda. It has been opened to the general public and the pictures on display include those of Modi's Himalayan sojourn, his achievements, both national and international, and various schemes of the central government launched under his leadership
On this occasion, JP Nadda administered the oath to party workers to serve the people and also urged them to observe the 20-day event in different states and cities by serving the helpless and needy people.
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As part of the celebrations, the third edition of e-auction of prestigious and memorable gifts presented to Modi is being held from September 17 to October 7 through the web portal https://pmmementos.gov.in.
The mementos include sports gear and equipment gifted to the Prime Minister by winners of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Other interesting artefacts include replicas of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Chardham, Rudraksh Convention Centre, models, sculptures, paintings, angavastras among others. In this round, around 1,330 mementoes are being e-auctioned.
In Varanasi, Modi's constituency, people poured milk in river Ganga to mark his birthday. In Puri, sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik wished Modi on his birthday through a sand art installation using 2,035 sea shells.
Throughout the day, wishes poured in, including from President Ramnath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Union ministers, BJP leaders, opposition leaders and celebrities.
“I wish you good health and long life and continue to serve the nation with your well-known spirit of 'Aharnish Sevamahe',” Kovind said in his message.
In his birthday message to Modi, Vice President Naidu said: “His exceptional vision, exemplary leadership and dedicated service have led to all-round growth of the nation. May he be blessed with a long, healthy and happy life ahead!”
Meanwhile, the day was also marked by opposition parties by giving it different names and staging demonstrations. The Akali Dal Badal staged a sit-in demonstration in the national capital in support of the farmers' agitation demanding repeal of the three controversial agricultural bills. The Congress's Yuva Morcha observed the day as National Unemployment Day, while the party's Mahila Morcha named the day 'Bad Omen Day'.Panauti Diwas
"It is the Prime Minister's birthday and from this platform, we wish him a happy birthday,” Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said. “We pray for his well being, but we do believe that this day is being celebrated in many parts of the country as unemployment day, anti-farmer day, high prices day, crippled economy day, as winning over your crony capitalists friends day, as ED, IT, CBI raid day, and the corona mismanagement day."
Shrinate said that she prays that God gives the Prime Minister the wisdom to realise what he has led the country to.
