Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 69, greetings pour in

Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 69 on Tuesday and was greeted by several leaders, including Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president and Home Minister Amit Shah.

In his message, Naidu said the nation is making steady progress under Modi's able leadership.

Shah described Modi as a leader with strong willpower and a symbol of decisive leadership and hard work.

"Under your leadership, an emerging India has made a mark in the world as a strong, safe and reliable nation," Shah said on Twitter.

हर भारतीय के जीवन को सुगम बनाने के लिए आपका परिश्रम व संकल्प भाव हमारे लिए एक प्रेरणास्त्रोत है।

एक जनप्रतिनिधि, एक कार्यकर्ता और एक देशवासी के रूप में आपके साथ राष्ट्रीय पुनर्निर्माण में भागीदार बनना सौभाग्य की बात है। ईश्वर से आपके स्वस्थ जीवन व दीर्घायु की कामना करता हूँ।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 17, 2019

Singh said the Prime Minister has been instrumental in building and strengthening India's position in the comity of nations.

"His visionary leadership has helped India in scaling new heights of glory. I pray for his good health and long life," the defence ministry tweeted.

Greetings and warm wishes to PM Shri @narendramodi on his birthday. He has been instrumental in building and strengthening India’s position in the comity of nations. His visionary leadership has helped India in scaling new heights of glory. I pray for his good health & long life.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 16, 2019

Nitish Kumar also took to Twitter to convey his message to the Prime Minister. 

माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी को जन्मदिन की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। उनके स्वस्थ जीवन एवं दीर्घायु होने की कामना करता हूं।@narendramodi Ji

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) September 16, 2019

Despite her criticism of the Prime Minister and the BJP, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee wished PM Modi on Twitter. 

Birthday greetings to Prime Minister @narendramodi ji

প্রধানমন্ত্রী নরেন্দ্র মোদিজী কে জন্মদিনের শুভেচ্ছা

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 17, 2019

Modi has a packed schedule and will spend most part of the day in Gujarat.

His schedule includes a visit to the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river, whose water level has reached its highest mark for the first time, to kickoff the "Namami Narmade" festival.

For the first time since the height of the Sarovar dam was raised in 2017, the water level reached its highest peak at 138.68 metres on Sunday evening.

The dam was inaugurated by PM Modi on this day in 2017.

After visiting the dam site at Kevadiya, the prime minister would address a gathering.

After his address, the PM would inspect some ongoing developmental projects near the dam and the Statue of Unity.

The prime minister is also expected to visit the temple of Lord Dattatreya at Garudeshwar village near Kevadiya.

On his 68th birthday last year, Modi was in his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi with school children.

He visited a primary school and celebrated his birthday with students. He later offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple there.