BJP Launches Nationwide Lighting Campaign for Modis Birthday Amid Congress Backlash
Photo: Collected
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked his 76th birthday on Thursday as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party launched extensive nationwide celebrations, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition Indian National Congress over public messaging amid pressing economic and humanitarian concerns.
As part of the celebrations, BJP President Nitin Nabin released a video message urging citizens across the country to light a lamp inside their homes between 6:00 PM and 7:00 AM. Crediting Prime Minister Modi for India's transformative development since 2014, Nabin emphasized that the nation is advancing rapidly toward the goal of becoming a developed country by 2047. He also lauded Modi's leadership in navigating crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside efforts to curb Naxalism and terrorism while promoting the welfare of women and youth.
To mark the milestone, the BJP announced a month-long Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan campaign highlighting Modi's successful tenure spanning from his time as Gujarat Chief Minister to his current role as Prime Minister. The initiative aims to strengthen public outreach, expand welfare activities, and engage the youth.
High-profile National Democratic Alliance leaders gathered in Varanasi, Modi's parliamentary constituency, to participate in the birthday events. Confirmed attendees included Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah joined a bike rally in Gujarat alongside Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan and Apna Dal leader Anupriya Patel. However, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma's office confirmed he would not attend the gathering.
The BJP's call to light lamps faced severe backlash from the opposition Congress party. Alok Kumar Dubey, general secretary of the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee, accused the ruling party of employing the campaign to divert public attention from real issues. Pointing to severe flooding in Bihar and soaring cooking oil prices, Dubey criticized the directive, stating that families struggling for survival should prioritize food security over wasting oil to light lamps.
