India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a celebratory campaign — dubbed ‘Seva Sankalp’ — to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s 25 years as head of a government.
On October 7, 2001, Modi was first sworn in as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat.
“As the head of the government, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s twenty-five years are a testament to service, dedication, good governance, and strong willpower,” India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said in a post on X.
Several politicians from the BJP echoed his sentiments, contratulating the premier on his service.
At the center of today’s festivities is a bike rally. News agency ANI reported that participants loaded up on bikes arrived in the northern holy city of Varanasi from a different holy city of Tirupati in southern India.
“Covering 2000 km (1,242 miles) after visiting the Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh, a team of 40 youths—who are also party office-bearers—undertook a journey,” a local minister from the state of Uttar Pradesh said, adding that a temple would soon be built to mark the occasion.
Several states BJP-ruled states are organizing public gatherings where speeches by Modi and BJP party President Nitin Nabin would be telecast on giant screens.
The celebrations are reminiscent of another recent campaign for Modi’s birthday on September 17. Critics had then pointed out that the government was spending massively on public relations, advertising and celebrations, while advising Indians to practice austerity to counter the fallout from global conflicts.
Source: www.dw.com
