Amit Shah praises Modi’s 25-year public service journey (Img: Dynamite News)
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 76th birthday, praising his 25 years in public service and describing his political journey as one marked by sacrifice, national service and determination.
Shah said Modi’s life reflected tireless hard work, sacrifice and foresight. “The life of Modi ji, who has made ‘karma' his ‘sadhana' and national service the aim of his life, is an epic tale of penance, sacrifice and unwavering resolve.” Modi, born on September 17, 1950, in Gujarat’s Vadnagar, turned 76 on Thursday.
“His journey, filled with service and dedication, is an inspiration for millions of countrymen,” Shah said in a post on X.
“I pray to God that he remains long-lived and healthy, and under his leadership, the country continues to scale new heights of progress and moves forward towards achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047,” Shah said.
Shah said Modi’s rise from an ordinary party volunteer to Gujarat chief minister and eventually prime minister demonstrated that a life devoted to national service could overcome even the most difficult challenges.
“He worked viewing power not as an end in itself, but as a means for the welfare of the poor and nation-building,” Shah said.
The home minister, who has worked with Modi in various capacities, said party workers like him were fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside the prime minister throughout his political journey.
“The greatest characteristic of Shri Modi's leadership is that the last person in society has always been at the centre of his governance,” he said.
“When a mother stands at the threshold of her pucca house and gives her blessings, or a sister shares how the Ayushman card saved her family, that's when the true meaning of these schemes becomes clear,” Shah said in a series of posts on X.
He said measures such as the abolition of triple talaq and the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam had given women greater confidence. Shah also pointed to Startup India, Skill India and the New Education Policy as initiatives that had created new opportunities for young people.
“This change in the lives of crores of people is Shri Modi's greatest asset… In regions where the word ‘development' was never even mentioned, world-class infrastructure stands tall today under the leadership of Modi ji,” he said.
Shah cited the Chenab Railway Bridge in Kashmir, described as the world’s highest railway arch bridge, along with roads and bridges in the Northeast, Vande Bharat trains and semiconductor units as examples of what he called a New India.
“The India that was once called part of the ‘Fragile Five' is today, under Modi ji's leadership, among the world's fastest-growing major economies, and our passport is now viewed with respect,” he said.
Shah also said the highest honours conferred on Modi by 36 countries represented an honour for Indians as well.
“Under Modi ji's leadership, the country for the first time witnessed the policy of 'zero tolerance' against terrorism being implemented on the ground,” Shah said.
Referring to the abrogation of Article 370, surgical strikes, air strikes and Operation Sindoor, Shah said these measures demonstrated that India had moved beyond merely condemning terrorism to taking what he described as decisive action.
“Naxalism has been eradicated, decades-old disputes in the Northeast have been resolved through peace accords, and the borders are secure. A secure India is the first prerequisite for a prosperous India; Modi ji has proven this,” he said.
