Programmes and prayers mark PM Modi's 76th birthday

Putin, Netanyahu, Meloni and US embassy on President Donald Trump’s behalf also sent wishes.

NEW DELHI: BJP celebrated PM Narendra Modi's 76th birthday Thursday with development and political programmes, prayers and diyas nationwide, also marking his unbroken 25-year run as head of govt.Allies Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu of TDP, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena, Union ministers Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal (Soneylal) and Chirag Paswan of LJP (Ram Vilas) joined celebrations.Thanking everyone, PM Modi said the wishes give him renewed strength to serve people. "I also appreciate everyone engaged in seva activities throughout the day. Let us together continue to build a Viksit Bharat," he said.In Varanasi, Naidu and Paswan joined defence minister Rajnath Singh to flag off a bike rally to Vadnagar. "Great leaders do not only dream but also turn those dreams into ground reality," Singh said, citing welfare schemes, financial inclusion, economic growth and India's rising global standing.

Modi inaugurated Semicon India conference and pitched India as a semiconductor manufacturing hub. By video, he addressed a West Bengal event transferring Rs 3,000 each to nearly 1.5 crore women.

BJP president Nitin Nabin said India was developing, becoming self-reliant and advancing globally, and donated blood at a BJP camp in Delhi.Members and admirers lit diyas following BJP's call for "aashirvad ka diya" for his health and success.President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi greeted Modi.Murmu praised his governance and inclusive policies.Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US embassy on President Donald Trump's behalf also sent wishes.