Munganitwar leads birthday tributes to Modi in Chandrapur, 76-foot cake cut

A moving programme was held at Gandhi Chowk in Chandrapur on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. On the initiative of MLA Sudhir Munganitwar, a lamp of blessing was lit at the venue. Munganitwar's granddaughter Shuravi and 35 young girls together cut a 76-foot cake, carrying the message of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. A large number of office-bearers and citizens were present.

The programme at Gandhi Chowk was filled with joy on the children's faces and chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Through the lamp lit on Munganitwar's initiative, the wish was expressed that the work of nation service continue at Modi's hands. Carrying the message of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Modi's birthday was celebrated with the cutting of the 76-foot cake by the hands of Munganitwar's granddaughter Shuravi and 35 girls.

The event was attended by the city's mayor Sangeeta Khandekar, former chairman of the Forest Development Corporation Chandan Singh Chandel, BJP district president Harish Sharma, Sapna Munganitwar, general secretary Dr Mangesh Gulwade, Ravi Lonkar, Jayashree Jumde, Chhabu Vairagade, Sunita Jaiswal, Savita Sarkar, Prajwalant Kadu, Brijbhushan Pazhare, Suraj Pedulwar, Prakash Dharane, Vishal Nimbalkar, Mugdha Khande, Namrata Themaskar and Shubhangi Sharma, along with several other office-bearers, workers and a large number of women.

Speaking on the occasion, Munganitwar said the lamp of blessing was not just a lamp but Chandrapur's blessing that service should reach the last person in the country, happiness should come to the homes of the poor and the light of development should reach the lives of the deprived. He said it was a prayer at the feet of Lord Mahadev that Prime Minister Modi continue to serve the nation this way, and that he receive good health, a long life and energy for national service. He said Modi's birthday was not just a day of celebration but a day of service and resolve. Munganitwar appealed that every patriotic citizen and worker should resolve to carry a lamp of development to wherever there is darkness over the next 365 days.

Munganitwar referred to central government schemes run for the poor and deprived, including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Jal Jeevan Mission, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and PM Vishwakarma Yojana. He said opening bank accounts for the poor, providing gas connections to women's homes, building toilets, giving the poor health cover, providing farmers economic support and delivering tap water to every home were attempts, through these schemes, to take the light of development to the last person in society.

Munganitwar also referred to the ideas of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas, Atmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local. He said the success of Chandrayaan-3 had made the world realise India's scientific strength, and that India was now a country that leads the world forward together rather than following it. He said Modi had resolved to serve not just his own family but 140 crore Indians as his family, and so on his birthday people should resolve to light a lamp of change in the lives of the deprived, poor, farmers, farm labourers and needy around them.

Recalling the moment Modi entered Parliament House at the time of his oath as Prime Minister, Munganitwar said Parliament House was not just a building of stone but a temple of democracy, and that the public was itself a form of God, and it was in this spirit that public service should be done. Referring to Chandrapur's development, he said 474 kilometres of national highway had been built in the district, giving a major push to infrastructure development. He said efforts would continue to take the benefits of various central and state government schemes to the last person in Chandrapur district.

At the event, Munganitwar said he hoped the lamp would keep alive the spirit of service, social responsibility and nation-building over the next 365 days. Carrying the message of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Munganitwar's granddaughter Shuravi and 35 girls wore masks bearing Modi's picture as they cut the 76-foot cake. The message given was that as the daughter progresses, the nation will progress. Finally, Munganitwar conveyed heartfelt birthday wishes to Modi on behalf of all the people of Chandrapur district and prayed at the feet of Goddess Mahakali for his good health and long life.