DIMAPUR, SEP 17 (NPN): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Nagaland celebrated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday through various service-oriented programmes across all 14 organisational districts and 60 Mandals of the State.
The celebrations were attended by senior party leaders, including State president Benjamin Yepthomi and former ministers in Dimapur, deputy chief minister Y Patton in Wokha, minister Temjen Imna Along in Kohima, minister Bashangmongba Chang in Tuensang and advisor Kropol Vitsu in Kohima.
Blood donation camps were also organised in Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung. State BJP said the celebrations reaffirmed its commitment to the spirit of “Seva Hi Sangathan”, with the occasion dedicated to serving the people and strengthening grassroots outreach across Nagaland.
Staff Reporter: Deputy chief minister Y Patton, while celebrating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday at Tongti village on Thursday, highlighted what he described as the expansion of infrastructure, welfare delivery and digital services under the Modi government, besides increased development activities in Nagaland and the Northeast.
Extending birthday greetings to Modi, Patton wished him good health, long life, strength and many more years of service to the country. Patton highlighted Modi’s journey from Vadnagar to becoming Prime Minister, noting that he first assumed office as chief minister of Gujarat in 2001, and had remained at the head of a government continuously since then, first in Gujarat and later at the Centre.
He said Modi had become India’s longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister, surpassing former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s record of 4,398 consecutive days. Modi crossed the 4,399-day mark on June 10, 2026, according to the Union Cabinet.
Patton said Modi would complete 25 continuous years as head of government on October 7, 2026.
Highlighting development initiatives during Modi’s tenure, Patton referred to the expansion of physical and digital infrastructure, including highways, airports, railway electrification and digital payments. He also pointed to India’s growing presence on international forums and initiatives such as the International Day of Yoga.
Patton referred to the International Monetary Fund’s July 2026 assessment of India as one of the fastest-growing major economies and a key engine of global growth. The IMF’s July outlook projected India’s 2026 growth at 6.4% and described the country as among the fastest-growing major economies.
On welfare delivery, Patton cited schemes including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Swachh Bharat, Jal Jeevan Mission and Ayushman Bharat, saying these had expanded access to banking, housing, clean cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water and healthcare.
Turning to the Northeast, Patton said a notable change during Modi’s tenure had been the increased frequency of visits by the Prime Minister and Union ministers to the region. He said the Centre had institutionalised regular ministerial visits to review development works and receive first-hand inputs from the States.
Citing government figures published in June 2026, Patton said the Prime Minister had visited the Northeast 83 times, while Union ministers had made 880 visits between January 2015 and December 2025. The figures were also published in New India Samachar.
For Nagaland, Patton said the development focus had extended beyond Kohima and Dimapur, with ministerial visits reaching districts farther from the State capital.
He cited projects worth more than Rs 21,700 crore for which the Prime Minister inaugurated or laid foundation stones in Nagaland in March 2024. However, official records for the March 2024 programme put the value of projects in Nagaland at more than Rs 1,700 crore, including multiple road projects, the Unity Mall in Chümoukedima, the 132kV sub-station at Nagarjan, the Chendang Saddle-Noklak road (Phase-I) and Kohima-Jessami Road.
Patton expressed hope that Nagaland and the Northeast would continue to receive greater connectivity, opportunities, peace and development.
The programme was chaired by S Longtsuthung Kikon, while the welcome address was delivered by Tongti village council chairman Yipomo Patton. Prayer for the cake-cutting ceremony was proposed by Nchumbemo Kikon, pastor of Sungka Baptist Church. The celebration concluded with a feast for the attendees.
