PM Narendra Modi seeks mother’s blessings on 64th birthday

Gandhinagar: On his 64th birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought mother’s blessings at her home here on Wednesday.

The PM also received calls from his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and President Pranab Mukherjee to wish him. Chinese President Xi Jinping also wished the Prime Minister.

Donning his iconic half sleeve saffron-coloured kurta and a hand woven scarf​, Modi arrived here, 23 km from Ahmedabad, alone in a normal vehicle without any security to meet his mother Hira Baa on his first birthday as Prime Minister.

When Modi stepped out from his official BMW car, a huge crowd of neighbours cheered Modi, saying: “Happy birthday Narendrabhai.”

Modi’s mother put both her hands on her son’s head and blessed him when the Prime Minister bowed to touch her feet. Gujarati sweets – churma ke laddoo, lapsi and kansar – were offered to the PM by his mother.

He later conversed with her in front of the cameras.

Sources said that Hira Baa contributed Rs 5,001 towards Kashmir flood relief and handed over that amount to Modi.

The Prime Minister spent about 25 minutes there.

PM Modi’s mother had been counting the days and hours to embrace her son on his birthday. This is the first visit of Modi to his home state after he became the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Modi received a call from Abe who wished him on his birthday, in a reflection of the special bonding the two Prime Ministers enjoy.

Modi visited Japan only a fortnight back and the warmth between the two leaders was at display during that.

President Mukherjee called up Modi to wish him.

Vice President Hamid Ansari also wished him.

Meanwhile, Gujarat’s Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, on microblogging website Twitter, saluted Hiraba for giving a nationalist son to India.

Hira Baa, a quiet lady who is proud of her son, is staying with her other son Pankaj Modi who is an employee of the state information department in Gandhinagar.

Tight security arrangements had been in place at Pankaj Modi’s residence for the PM’s visit.

The PM had earlier urged people that his birthday should not be celebrated, and instead they should help the Jammu and Kashmir flood victims.

The PM had also said that there will be programmes on September 17 for visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will be in Gujarat, but not for his birthday.