- Thursday, February 27, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
AS Indians in the country and abroad wished prime minister Narendra Modi on turning 73 on Sunday (17), about 1,000 auto-rickshaw drivers in Surat in his home state of Gujarat decided to celebrate the occasion in a unique way: offering 30 per cent discounts to their customers.
Another 73 even went on to give their passengers a free ride during the day.
#WATCH | Gujarat: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday on September 17, auto-rickshaw drivers in Surat announced to offer special discounts to customers. pic.twitter.com/5lG2xTvoiS
— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2023
#WATCH | Surat, Gujarat: "1000 auto-rickshaw drivers have announced a 30% discount on PM Modi's birthday. I would like to thank 73 auto-rickshaw drivers who are offering 100% discount on the 73rd birthday of PM Modi," says Gujarat MLA Purnesh Modi on PM Modi's birthday pic.twitter.com/I6TKx37Uob
— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2023
At #Yashobhoomi for PM Vishwakarma Scheme launch. I am glad to be invited for this beautiful place especially on the occasion of PM Narendra Modi ji's birthday. pic.twitter.com/shq4Ruhbwu
— Vaishali Poddar (@PoddarVaishali) September 17, 2023
The announcement was made by Purnesh Modi, a lawmaker of the state which is ruled by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is also in power at the federal level.
“1,000 auto-rickshaw drivers have announced a 30 per cent discount on PM Modi’s birthday. I would like to thank 73 auto-rickshaw drivers who are offering a 100 per cent discount on the 73rd birthday of PM Modi,” he was quoted by news agency Asian News International.
The BJP was also set to kick off a two-week campaign starting Sunday called ‘Sewa Pakhwara’ during which its members will participate in welfare programmes such as blood donation camps, cleanliness drives and health camps.
Modi himself was also set to launch his government’s ambitious ‘PM Vishwakarma’ scheme on the day to help artisans and craftsmen and others engaged in traditional skill-based work.
Recent surveys have shown Modi remaining a highly popular leader not only in India but also abroad. He will seek his third straight mandate next year.
Wishes poured in for the prime minister from various corners of the country, including from president Droupadi Murmu and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, on his birthday.
