Bihar CM, other BJP leaders take part in Ashirwad Ka Diya event to mark PM’s birthday

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Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary cuts the ribbon to inaugurate a book stall showcasing literature based on the life journey of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the BJP State office on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, in Patna on September 17, 2026. | Photo Credit: ANI

The Bihar unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday (September 17, 2026) organised the Ashirwad Ka Diya (lamp of blessing) programme across Bihar to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and other senior party leaders also participated in multiple events.

The event, held as part of the party’s one-month Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, saw leaders and party workers light over 20 lakh diyas across the State.

Mr. Choudhary lit the diya in a function organised at Pataliputra Sports Complex whereas BJP State President Sanjay Saraogi attended a similar programme in Darbhanga. A blood donation camp was also organised at BJP office in Patna where Mr. Choudhary distributed certificates.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Choudhary said that commitment to India and its development is consistently evident throughout Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years of public life. He asserted that under the Prime Minister’s leadership, numerous public welfare schemes —such as housing for the poor (Pradhan Mantri Awas), electricity and toilets in every household, and the provision of food grains and healthcare facilities— have been implemented on a massive scale.

Terming the government “shameless”, the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) slammed the celebrations as a waste of public money even as Bihar continued to tackle the aftermath of the recent floods.

Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly Tejashwi Yadav also shared the official order of Bihar Education Department and Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC) in which directives have been given to all the private and government schools respectively to light lamps in their respective campuses on September 17. Both the letters were issued on September 14.

Sharing the letter, Mr. Yadav wrote on X, “Forced Happy Birthday to Modi Ji” via Government Order! For the first time in the country, a government directive has been issued on the birthday of a Prime Minister who has exceeded the age limit of the Margdarshak Mandal (guiding council) , making it legally mandatory to light diyas at schools, government buildings, and public places like roads, bridges, parks, etc., at a government expense of Rs 100 crore.”

He further wrote, “Teachers will now skip teaching and, on a holiday, arrive at school at 7-8 PM to light the diyas, guard them, and chant praises of Modi Ji. The UPSC-passed bureaucrat—in an attempt to pass the most difficult paper of blind devotion and earn his blessings.”

Mr. Yadav also alleged that the “shameless” Bihar government is organising such a programme in a poor State like Bihar which “is crying out in distress from floods”, with 50 lakh people affected.

Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) also slammed the government, saying that Bihar is submerged in floods, yet the BJP is celebrating Prime Minister’s birthday.

CPI(ML) State Secretary Kunal criticised the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ and the ‘Aashirwad ka Diya’ programme, terming it an act of insensitivity.

He added that on the one hand, the government claims a lack of funds for relief operations and compensation for flood victims, while on the other, money is being squandered on the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’—an initiative with no relevance to public welfare.

Mr. Kunal asked to justify the celebration when darkness prevails in the homes of flood-affected families in Bihar, and when people are enduring the pain of losing their loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. 

He urged that instead of birthday celebrations and symbolic events, the government and the BJP should focus on providing immediate aid, food, medicine, safe shelter, and rehabilitation to the flood victims. “In this hour of crisis, Bihar needs sensitivity, relief, and concrete government action, not celebrations, “he said.

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