PM Modi Birthday: Diyas Lit at Namo Ghat in Varanasi as Celebrations Mark the Occasion

Grand celebrations are underway on the banks of the River Hooghly in Kolkata to mark the 76th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. West Bengal government departments have organised events featuring illuminated barges, traditional boats, laser light shows, a fire show, and the lighting of approximately one lakh electric diyas despite heavy rains in the city. The event also highlights the Prime Minister completing 25 years in public service on October 7, while emphasising double-engine growth and public expectations from the administration.

In an interview at the Keralam Round Table, Commonwealth Games silver medalist Mohammed Basil discussed his journey as a 21-year-old sprinter from Kerala. Basil, who started running in sixth standard after initially playing Kho Kho, mentioned that Usain Bolt is his role model. He shared that his personal best timing in the hundred meters is 10.63 seconds, while he clocked 10.83 seconds to win the silver medal at his first international competition. Basil highlighted the early difficulties he faced regarding training facilities and upper body workouts, as well as the guidance provided by his coach and parents. Emphasizing his routine of training morning and evening with rest only on Sundays, Basil stated, "Disability does not matter," encouraging aspiring athletes to work hard in their chosen fields. He also noted the need for equal support from the government for athletes across all sports and expressed optimism about progressing toward future competitions.

In an interview on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju shared insights into his long association with the leader. Reflecting on their early interactions as party general secretaries in the late 1990s, Rijiju highlighted how Modi instilled discipline and target-bound execution. Rijiju stated, 'Modi Ji's time you can't make a mistake.' He noted that Modi ended VIP culture, introduced a round-the-clock work ethic, and completely transformed national governance after 2014. Discussing national security during his tenure in the Home Ministry, Rijiju recounted firm decisions taken after attacks on security personnel and observed that major Indian cities have become safe from frequent terror attacks. Rijiju also emphasized Modi's long-term roadmap toward a developed nation by 2047, describing him as a compassionate listener, a decisive visionary leader, and a statesman representing India globally.

A political faceoff has intensified over the Merchant Discount Rate charges on Unified Payments Interface transactions exceeding 2,000 rupees. The Bharatiya Janata Party accused the Congress of hypocrisy, noting the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance pushed for a tiered fee framework without dissent from its members. Meanwhile, the opposition labelled the charge a 'Modi Tax', claiming external pressure behind the decision. Defending the move, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri stated that running the digital payment system incurs costs and the government cannot subsidise everything indefinitely. Authorities maintain that charges will only apply to high-volume merchants, leaving consumers and person-to-person transfers entirely exempt.