New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 70 today, and Twitter is full of birthday wishes for him.
Home Minister Amit Shah spares no praise for the prime minister.
एक मजबूत, सुरक्षित, आत्मनिर्भर भारत के लिए अपने जीवन का क्षण-क्षण खपा देने वाले ऐसे महान नेता @narendramodi जी के नेतृत्व में माँ भारती की सेवा करने का अवसर मिलना बहुत ही सौभाग्य की बात है।
मैं देश के करोड़ों लोगों के साथ मोदी जी के उत्तम स्वास्थ्य और दीर्घायु की कामना करता हूँ।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 17, 2020
Former BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi shares his blessings for the PM.
चिरंजीवी भव:।
जन्मदिवस की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। pic.twitter.com/vrN6iSCber— Murli Manohar Joshi (@drmmjoshibjp) September 17, 2020
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman turns into a fangirl.
Wishes to @PMOIndia @narendramodi on your birthday.
You have dedicated yourself completely to the service of the nation. Selfless and tireless, you are focused on improving India’s place in the world. In these challenging times you’ve led from the front extending assistance 1/— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) September 17, 2020
Her junior colleague, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur turns Modi’s name into an acronym. Check it out.
Wishing ??Prime Minister @narendramodi ji a very happy birthday, his name embodies his vision:
M’ission
O’f
D’eveloping
I’ndia
| @PMOIndia |#HappyBdayNaMo pic.twitter.com/psi1KRxybZ
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) September 17, 2020
Meanwhile, the ‘birthday boy’ was reconnecting with old friends.
I am delighted you have brought back memories from my student days and especially memories of my teacher, late Praveen Sheth. He was an outstanding mentor.
Where is Surabhi Ben these days? Is she with Amit in USA? https://t.co/mS1YbMoxXe
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 17, 2020
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is politically correct in his best wishes.
Wishing PM Narendra Modi ji a happy birthday.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 17, 2020
Friends and opponents, everyone sent Modi birthday wishes.
Wishing Hon. PM, Shri @narendramodi ji a very happy birthday. Wish him good health and happiness always.
— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) September 17, 2020
But some people are celebrating Modi’s birthday in a ‘hatke’ manner.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan has declared PM Modi’s birthday as ‘Rashtriya Jumla Diwas’.
राष्ट्रीय जुमला दिवस के दिन अपने प्रिय मोदी जी को समर्पित: "पेट भी खाली, जेब भी खाली। भाषण से पेट नहीं भरता, रोजगार दो रोजगार दो।" pic.twitter.com/p5bxCMSxx2
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) September 17, 2020
And a section on Twitter, spearheaded by the Congress, turned this day into National Unemployment Day to protest against rising unemployment in the country. The hashtag is trending on the site with over 26 lakh tweets.
The only Prime Minister who 'created' maximum UNEMPLOYMENT in India — Narendra Modi's birthday will be observed as #NationalUnemploymentDay, henceforth!
He promised 2 crores jobs every year but 2 crore people have lost their jobs due to his misadventures with India's economy.
— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) September 17, 2020
Here’s an eye-opening wish for the PM by a retired Air Force officer.
एक दिन PM से मिलना हुआ और ख़ुद को 7वें आसमान पर समझा.55 दिनों बाद फिर मिली,जब वे पानी में उतरने वाले प्लेन से अंडमान जा रहे थे,फिर भी अच्छा लगा. और फिर मिली डेढ़ साल बाद!
तब तक आप सब धूमिल कर चुके थे – जनतंत्र से लेकर उम्मीद तक!
देश को स्वस्थ रखें, रहें
#राष्ट्रीय_बेरोजगारी_दिवस pic.twitter.com/RE04DY8aye
— Wg Cdr Anuma Acharya (Retd) (@AnumaVidisha) September 17, 2020
Several other prominent personalities also share their birthday with Modi, including Bollywood lyricist Prasoon Joshi and cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin.
For more than a decade, Prasoon Sir has been touching our hearts with his remarkable Hindi songs, dialogues and poetries. Many happy returns of the day to the wordsmith, @prasoonjoshi_. #HBDPrasoonJoshi
— Bollywood Era (@BollywoodArvind) September 16, 2020
He tempts the batsman to leave his crease at the striker's end. And forces him to stay behind it at the non-striker's end! Wishing @ashwinravi99 a very happy birthday and lots of work for those fingers this year
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 17, 2020
Today also marks the birth anniversary of legendary artist M.F. Husain.
Let’s not forget today is M F Husain’s birth anniversary also, a great son of India and an extraordinary artist. Those who hated him should see his series on Ramayana and Mahabharata done at the suggestion of Rammanohar Lohia.
— Akshaya Mukul (@Akshayamukul) September 17, 2020
Moving on from the birthdays to today’s Bollywood bulletin:
Actor Sonu Sood makes a rather pointed remark. We wonder who it targets.
इज़्ज़त कमाने निकलना।
मशहूर होने नहीं।
मशहूर तो बहुत से लोग हैं
जो अब कभी इज़्ज़त नहीं कमा पाएँगे।
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) September 16, 2020
After actor Kangana Ranaut made a derogatory comment about actor-turned-politician Urmila Matondkar in a TV interview, fellow actor Swara Bhaskar remembers the latter’s memorable films.
Dear @UrmilaMatondkar ji, remembering ur outstanding performances in Masoom, Chamatkaar, Rangeela, Judaai, Daud, Satya, Bhoot, Kaun, Jungle, Pyaar Tuney Kya Kiya, Tehzeeb, Pinjar, Ek Hasina Thi.. among others and have marvelled at your acting chops & brilliant dancing! Love u ?
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) September 16, 2020
Meanwhile, Matondkar herself shared a quote by Maratha leader Chhatrapati Shivaji on restraint and retribution.
जय महाराष्ट्र ??
जय हिन्द ??
शुभ रात्रि ?? pic.twitter.com/gIK8DYibZL
— Urmila Matondkar (@UrmilaMatondkar) September 16, 2020
Here’s some internet gold…
Urmila Matondkar predicted this long ago ?
pic.twitter.com/90iUUTh3aN
— Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) September 17, 2020
In other news,
A heartfelt post by Congress leader Sharmistha Mukherjee about her late parents.
Today is my mothers’ birthday. My dad really missed her after her passing away 5 years back. Hope they are together now? pic.twitter.com/ONXd52kwZy
— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) September 17, 2020
Cricketer Harbhajan Singh imparts some wisdom.
प्रशंसक आपकी "स्थिति"देखते हैं
और
शुभचिंतक आपकी "परिस्थिति"।
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 17, 2020
There’s good news too: J&K politician and PDP leader Naeem Akhtar was released from detention after 407 days.
After 407 days of detention am informed that I am free to move about. Thank you rulers for small mercies while you inflict larger tragedies on our land.
— Naeem Akhtar (@shangpal) September 17, 2020
Finally, Norwegian diplomat Erik Solheim on why some thieves are cuter than others
Some thieves are cuter than others? ❤️❤️❤️
— Erik Solheim (@ErikSolheim) September 17, 2020
With inputs from Unnati Sharma