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New Delhi: From “simple emotional” music-based street theatre presentations on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years of public life to influencers coming in to showcase “transformative” projects, to 500 riders on 250 motorcycles carrying sacred waters between Vadnagar and Varanasi – these are a part of 14 modules that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has devised for month-long celebrations of Modi’s birthday and 25 years of his public life since he first became Gujarat chief minister.

The Wire has seen the minutes of a meeting headed by the Haryana chief secretary on September 2, with all administrative secretaries, which decided how the BJP government in the state will engage government machinery for the month-long activities. The minutes also provide details on how the event will unfold in other state governments under the BJP.

In the past 12 years the BJP has sought to project one photo, that of Modi, even during the G-20 summit in Delhi in 2023 or now with BRICS, despite these being summit meetings. Modi’s birthdays have been used to introduce more cult-like fanfare from the BJP and its leaders. The scale of the celebrations last year when he turned 75 were unprecedented as a concerted attempt was seen to flip the speculation around his retirement. Similar efforts are underway this year to promote Modi’s birthday and the completion of 25 years of his public life, despite the milestones coming months after his government faced unprecedented youth protests that forced the resignation of union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Last month, following BJP president Nitin Nabin’s first meeting with his new team of national office bearers, the party’s general secretary Vinod Tawde announced that along with the Seva Pakhwada that the party undertakes to mark Modi’s birthday, this year will include month-long celebrations to mark 25 years of Modi’s public life.

Tawde had said while addressing the media following the meeting:

“Every year, the BJP observes a ‘Seva Pakhwada’ across the country to mark the birthday of the PM, on September 17th. Modi’s whole life is dedicated to Seva which is why the party celebrates Seva Pakhwada. This October 7 marks the completion of 25 years since the PM took the oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The party decided to launch a month-long nationwide ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ through which Modi’s service will be highlighted.”

‘Ashirvad Ka Diya’: Lighting lamps on September 17 for Modi’s birthday

‘India of the Dreams of 250 Million Children’: Drawing and speech competitions across all government and private schools on Viksit Bharat

‘NAMO Seva Gatha’: A ‘simple, emotional’ music-based street theatre presentation on 25 years of Modi’s public life

‘Aangan Ka Utsav’: Anganwadi and ASHA workers to be felicitated while two-three workers will share their experiences

‘Kahani Badlav Ki’: Two authentic beneficiary stories to be highlighted as success stories per day........

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