Key Highlights:

  • Baba Ramdev credited PM Modi's government with raising India's global fame and stature on his 76th birthday.
  • He listed the abrogation of Article 370, the Ram Temple construction and India's global recognition among major achievements.
  • Ramdev cited welfare milestones including 560 million tap connections, Ayushman Bharat coverage for 440 million people and housing for nearly 40 million poor families.
  • He highlighted infrastructure gains, noting the Haridwar-Delhi journey now takes 2.5 hours instead of 6-8 hours.
  • Swami Chidanand Saraswati also extended birthday greetings to PM Modi from the banks of the Ganga in Uttarakhand.

A Birthday Tribute From Haridwar

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Thursday, on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday, highlighted what he described as major achievements of the Modi government, saying India's fame and global stature have increased significantly during his tenure.

A Nationwide Celebration

Speaking to reporters, Ramdev described the scale of public celebration marking the occasion. "Millions of countrymen are wishing respected PM Narendra Modi a happy birthday. People are lighting lamps in their homes, temples and on their rooftops, wishing him a long and prosperous life," he said, framing the birthday as a moment of widespread, grassroots celebration rather than a purely official or political observance.

Praising PM Modi's Cultural and National Commitments

Ramdev said India now has a Prime Minister who respects yoga, Ayurveda, Sanatan Dharma and nationalism, while being committed to taking the country to the pinnacle of prosperity and ensuring the welfare of everyone, from the poor to the middle class, tying together cultural, spiritual and economic themes within a single characterisation of PM Modi's leadership.

Key Achievements Highlighted

Baba Ramdev listed several developments he considered among the major achievements of PM Modi's tenure, including the abrogation of Article 370, the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the commitment to building a developed India, and India's increased global recognition. He said there is now a sense of pride in being Indian across the world, adding that the international honours received by PM Modi also reflect India's growing influence globally.

Welfare Schemes Cited as Transformative

Ramdev pointed to a range of welfare initiatives launched during the Modi government's tenure, including 'Nal Se Jal' (the Jal Jeevan Mission), Ayushman Bharat, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and housing schemes for the poor, arguing that these programmes have collectively transformed the lives of millions of people across the country.

Specific Figures Cited

He cited several specific figures to support these claims, including the provision of around 560 million tap connections, food security coverage for approximately 800 million people, healthcare coverage for around 440 million people under Ayushman Bharat, the construction of approximately 120 million toilets, and housing for nearly 40 million poor families, presenting these numbers as concrete evidence of the scale at which these welfare schemes have been implemented.

Infrastructure Development Also Highlighted

Beyond welfare schemes, Ramdev also highlighted the expansion of roads, highways, airports and other infrastructure facilities across the country as a significant achievement of the government's tenure.

A Personal Example From Haridwar to Delhi

To illustrate the impact of this infrastructure development, Ramdev cited the specific example of travel between Haridwar and Delhi, noting that while the journey previously took around six to eight hours, it can now be completed in approximately two-and-a-half hours, using this personal, tangible example to underscore the broader claims about infrastructure improvement in more relatable terms.

A Call for Citizen Responsibility

Wishing PM Modi a long and healthy life along with continued success in his service to the nation, Ramdev added that every citizen must fulfil their own responsibility toward realising the broader vision of a developed India, framing the country's continued progress as a shared responsibility rather than one resting solely on government leadership.

A Second Tribute From the Banks of the Ganga

Meanwhile, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, extended his own birthday greetings to PM Modi from the banks of the Ganga in Uttarakhand, offering a message rooted in spiritual symbolism tied to the location itself.

Invoking Lord Vishwakarma's Blessings

"Today, from the sacred banks of Maa Ganga, from Parmarth Niketan, from the land of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, heartfelt birthday wishes to the Vishwakarma of modern India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. May Mother Ganga bless you with long life, divine vitality, excellent health, and unending energy for the service of the nation. Today is also the jayanti of Lord Vishwakarma; may his grace forever shower your life, the life of society, and everyone's life with happiness, prosperity, joy, enthusiasm, exuberance, zeal, success, and delight," he said, drawing a symbolic connection between PM Modi's birthday and the simultaneous celebration of Vishwakarma Jayanti, the day associated with the divine architect and builder in Hindu tradition, a fitting parallel given the infrastructure and development achievements attributed to PM Modi's tenure by other spiritual leaders on the same occasion.