Amit Shah wishes PM Modi on 75th birthday, hails 'life of penance and resolve'
Synopsis
On PM Modi's 75th birthday, Home Minister Amit Shah personally travelled to Vadnagar — Modi's birthplace — to flag off a 40,000-km twin bike rally as part of the BJP's 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan', framing the milestone as 25 years of national service. The scale of the campaign signals the party is turning a birthday into a major political narrative event.
Key Takeaways
Amit Shah extended birthday greetings to PM Narendra Modi on 17 September 2026 , calling him a symbol of 'tireless hard work, sacrifice, and foresight' in a post on X.
PM Modi turned 75 , born on 17 September 1950 in Vadnagar, Gujarat ; he has served as Prime Minister since 26 May 2014 and is currently in his third term .
Amit Shah flagged off the BJP's 'Vadnagar to Varanasi' Seva Sankalp Bike Yatra at 9:30 am from Vadnagar as part of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan .
A parallel 'Varanasi to Vadnagar' yatra was launched simultaneously with Rajnath Singh , Yogi Adityanath , and N.
Chandrababu Naidu in attendance.
The twin yatras will together cover 40,000 km across 193 districts and around 1,159 villages in 10 states , involving around 1,000 young participants .
The campaign concludes on 7 October , when PM Modi completes 25 years in public life .
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, 17 September 2026, extended warm birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a symbol of tireless hard work and describing his life as 'an epic tale of penance, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve.' The tribute came as PM Modi turned 75, born on 17 September 1950 in Vadnagar, Gujarat.
Shah's Birthday Message
In a post on X, Home Minister Shah wrote: 'Heartfelt birthday wishes to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the symbol of tireless hard work, sacrifice, and foresight.' He further described Modi as someone who 'has made karma his sadhana and national service the aim of his life,' adding that his journey is 'an inspiration for millions of countrymen.'
Shah also expressed a prayer that PM Modi remain 'long-lived and healthy' and that 'under his leadership, the country continues to scale new heights of progress and moves forward towards achieving the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.'
The 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' Bike Yatra
Beyond the social media tribute, Amit Shah travelled to Vadnagar, Gujarat — PM Modi's birthplace — on Thursday to personally flag off the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s 'Vadnagar to Varanasi' Seva Sankalp Bike Yatra at 9:30 am IST. The event marks the launch of the BJP's Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, a nationwide campaign timed to coincide with PM Modi's birthday and his 25 years in public life.
A parallel 'Varanasi to Vadnagar' yatra began simultaneously from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu among those present at the launch there.
Scale and Reach of the Twin Yatras
The twin bike rallies together are expected to cover approximately 40,000 km, passing through 193 districts and around 1,159 villages across 10 states. Around 1,000 young participants are involved — 500 travelling from Vadnagar towards Varanasi and another 500 in the reverse direction. The yatras are scheduled to conclude on 7 October, the date PM Modi completes 25 years in public life.
PM Modi: Key Milestones
Born in Vadnagar in 1950, Narendra Modi served as Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, before taking over as Prime Minister on 26 May 2014. Currently in his third term, he is regarded as the longest-serving continuously elected Prime Minister of India. He represents Varanasi in the Lok Sabha. This comes amid a broader BJP effort to consolidate his public image ahead of the party's outreach campaigns in multiple states.
Shah's Programme in Vadnagar
Amit Shah's day in Vadnagar began at 8:15 am IST with a Maha Aarti at Sharmishtha Lake, followed by a padayatra, flag-off preparations for the bike yatra, and the launch of a cleanliness campaign at the Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple. The events are a visible symbol of the BJP's intent to frame Modi's political career through the lens of public service ahead of the symbolic 25-year milestone.
Point of View
000-km, 10-state brand exercise for PM Modi. That Amit Shah personally travelled to Vadnagar, and that figures like Rajnath Singh, Yogi Adityanath, and Chandrababu Naidu were deployed simultaneously, signals a high-level organisational push with an eye on the BJP's electoral calendar. The '25 years in public life' framing is also notable: it positions Modi not just as a Prime Minister but as a lifetime institution, an identity the party will likely lean on heavily in the months ahead. The real question is whether such campaigns translate into on-ground outreach outcomes or remain largely symbolic spectacle.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Amit Shah say about PM Modi on his birthday?
Home Minister Amit Shah called PM Modi 'the symbol of tireless hard work, sacrifice, and foresight' in a post on X on 17 September 2026. He described Modi's life as 'an epic tale of penance, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve' and expressed a prayer that Modi lead India towards 'Viksit Bharat by 2047.'
What is the BJP's Seva Sankalp Bike Yatra?
It is a twin bike rally launched by the BJP on PM Modi's 75th birthday as part of the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan'. One leg travels from Vadnagar to Varanasi and the other from Varanasi to Vadnagar, together covering approximately 40,000 km across 193 districts and around 1,159 villages in 10 states.
When does the Seva Sankalp Yatra conclude?
The twin yatras are scheduled to conclude on 7 October 2026, the date on which PM Modi completes 25 years in public life. Around 1,000 young participants are expected to take part across both legs of the rally.
How long has PM Modi served as Prime Minister?
PM Narendra Modi has served as Prime Minister since 26 May 2014 and is currently in his third term, making him the longest-serving continuously elected Prime Minister of India. He was previously Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014.
Who attended the Varanasi launch of the BJP bike yatra?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu were among those expected to attend the simultaneous 'Varanasi to Vadnagar' yatra launch on 17 September 2026.
