JOIN USPrime Minister Narendra Modi turned 69 on Tuesday and was greeted by several leaders, including Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president and Home Minister Amit Shah.
In his message, Naidu said the nation is making steady progress under Modi's able leadership.
Shah described Modi as a leader with strong willpower and a symbol of decisive leadership and hard work.
"Under your leadership, an emerging India has made a mark in the world as a strong, safe and reliable nation," Shah said on Twitter.
दृढ़ इच्छाशक्ति, निर्णायक नेतृत्व और अथक परिश्रम के प्रतीक देश के सर्वाधिक लोकप्रिय नेता प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी को जन्मदिन की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 17, 2019
आपके नेतृत्व में उभरते नये भारत ने विश्व में एक मजबूत, सुरक्षित और विश्वसनीय राष्ट्र के रूप में अपनी पहचान बनाई है।
Singh said the prime minister has been instrumental in building and strengthening India's position in the comity of nations.
"His visionary leadership has helped India in scaling new heights of glory. I pray for his good health and long life," the defence ministry tweeted.
Greetings and warm wishes to PM Shri @narendramodi on his birthday. He has been instrumental in building and strengthening India’s position in the comity of nations. His visionary leadership has helped India in scaling new heights of glory. I pray for his good health & long life.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 16, 2019
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 69th birthday.
Banerjee, who is likely to meet the prime minister in New Delhi on Wednesday for discussions on administrative issues, wrote on her Twitter handle, "Birthday greetings to Prime Minister @narendramodi ji."
Birthday greetings to Prime Minister @narendramodi ji
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 17, 2019
প্রধানমন্ত্রী নরেন্দ্র মোদিজী কে জন্মদিনের শুভেচ্ছা
Banerjee has been one of the harshest critics of the BJP and Modi.
Meanwhile, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar also extended his greetings to PM Modi, saying the nation is scaling new heights under PM Modi's leadership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, thought, untiring effort and spinal leadership has helped India scale new heights and the nation is bound to attain its past glory. I join millions in wishing him on his birthday and pray for his good health and long life, Dhankhar said in his message.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi vision, thought, untiring effort and spinal leadership has helped India scale new heights and the Nation is bound to attain its past glory. I join millions in wishing him on his birthday and pray for his good health and long life. Jagdeep Dhankhar।
— Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) September 17, 2019
Modi has a packed schedule and will spend most part of the day in Gujarat.
His schedule includes a visit to the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river, whose water level has reached its highest mark for the first time, to kick off the "Namami Narmade" festival.
For the first time since the height of the Sarovar dam was raised in 2017, the water level reached its highest peak at 138.68 metres on Sunday evening.
The dam was inaugurated by PM Modi on this day in 2017.
After visiting the dam site at Kevadiya, the prime minister would address a gathering.
After his address, the PM would inspect some ongoing developmental projects near the dam and the Statue of Unity.
The prime minister is also expected to visit the temple of Lord Dattatreya at Garudeshwar village near Kevadiya.
On his 68th birthday last year, Modi was in his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi with school children.
He visited a primary school and celebrated his birthday with students. He later offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple there.