BJP launched Sewa Pakhwada as wishes poured in, while Congress stirred debate with an AI video portraying Adani calling Modi his “loyal partner.”
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, September 17 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday on Tuesday was marked by a blend of solemn prayers, political spectacle, international outreach, and controversy stirred by a viral AI-generated video. Across the country, supporters celebrated the milestone with fervour, while political opponents sought to frame the day with sharp criticism of Modi’s ties to corporate power.
From early morning, BJP cadres and volunteers fanned out in towns and villages to launch Sewa Pakhwada, a fortnight-long campaign of service programmes ranging from blood donation camps and medical check-ups to cleanliness drives and welfare outreach. In Varanasi, Modi’s parliamentary constituency, the ghats of the Ganga lit up with diyas and chants of “Har Har Mahadev,” as priests conducted a special Ganga aarti in his honour. Rangolis, murals, and digital billboards across cities bore greetings for the Prime Minister.
Wishes flowed in from across the political spectrum. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan lauded Modi’s role in making India “a force to reckon with on the global stage” and wished him a long, healthy life. Rahul Gandhi offered a brief but notable greeting, expressing prayers for Modi’s good health. Sharad Pawar described the Prime Minister as “one of the most impactful leaders of our times,” while Chief Ministers Nitish Kumar and M.K. Stalin both extended cordial wishes. Even leaders who have often been at odds with Modi acknowledged the occasion, reflecting the weight of the milestone.
सच्चाई का सफर, जो चाय से चला,
हर दिल की उम्मीद बन गया है, जो कभी गरीबी में पला।मोदी जी सिर्फ प्रधानमंत्री नहीं, 140 करोड़ भारतवासियों की उम्मीद हैं…#HappyBdayPMModi pic.twitter.com/vwul7B0eAd
— BJP (@BJP4India) September 17, 2025
The highlight of international greetings came from across the Atlantic. Former U.S. President Donald Trump telephoned Modi on the eve of his birthday, praising him for doing a “tremendous job.” Modi, in response, expressed gratitude and tweeted: “Thank you, my friend President Trump, for your warm greetings on my 75th birthday. Like you, I am committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.” Trump’s outreach is being interpreted as a thaw in relations at a time when trade tensions and tariff disputes have strained ties. Analysts see the exchange as more than pleasantries — a signal of recalibration between two global partners.
READ: SPECIAL REPORT: Bihar Latest — How Adani Has Thrived on Govts Generosity
Yet, even as wishes poured in, the Congress party attempted to dominate headlines with an AI-generated video featuring a character resembling industrialist Gautam Adani. In the clip, the Adani-like figure declares: “Narendra Modi has been a very loyal supporter of mine. It has never happened that Modi opposed my orders. Whatever I asked for — factories, lands, tenders, deals — Modi got it done in my name.” Released under the hashtag #MyModiStory, the video quickly went viral on social media, spawning memes, debates, and criticism over the ethics of deploying synthetic media in political discourse.
#MyModiStory pic.twitter.com/7AaFn0Xkbz
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 17, 2025
Congress leaders defended the video as satire, arguing that it captured the essence of what they allege is Modi’s “special treatment” of Adani. “This is not about the medium, it is about the truth behind the message,” a Congress spokesperson said. The BJP, however, dismissed the clip as “fake propaganda,” accusing the opposition of lowering the political discourse and spreading dangerous misinformation. Independent observers also raised concerns about the growing use of AI-generated content in elections, warning that parody and manipulation can easily blur into disinformation.
The Prime Minister made no reference to the controversy. Instead, he used the day to launch new welfare initiatives from Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, focusing on women, children, and tribal communities. “Service to the people is the true celebration of life,” Modi said in his address, linking his personal milestone to the broader theme of governance and welfare.
The day thus reflected the dual realities of Modi’s political persona at 75: a leader feted with reverence by supporters and global leaders alike, and simultaneously targeted with biting criticism at home. The showers of greetings — from temples on the Ganga to the White House in Washington — stood in sharp contrast with the storm of satire and accusation stirred by the Congress’s viral post.
As Modi embarks on another year at the helm, the birthday spectacle offered a snapshot of his India: celebratory, contested, deeply polarised, and inseparably bound to both faith and political firestorms.
