Bengaluru, Feb 27: Karnataka Chief Minister and veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa turned 78 on Thursday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of leaders greeting him.
Modi hailed Yediyurappa as a "hardworking" chief minister and wished him long life and good health, while several state leaders flocked to his residence and greeted the Lingayat strongman.
"Birthday greetings to Karnataka's hardworking CM @BSYBJP Ji. He is passionately working for the state's progress, especially on farmer welfare and rural development. I pray for his long life and good health," the Prime Minister tweeted.
A large-scale "non-partisan" birthday bash will be held here later in the evening.
The felicitation function will see Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and former chief minister S M Krishna besides Siddaramaiah of Congress and H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S) sharing the stage.
Union Ministers D V Sadananda Gowda, also a former chief minister, Pralhad Joshi and Suresh Angadi will be in attendance.
BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh and state party chief Nalin Kumar Kateel are among those who will be gracing the event.
While Santosh will release a felicitation volume in Kannada with 78 articles from a cross-section of people, including politicians, writers, bureaucrats, and spiritual leaders; Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy will unveil a coffee table book and documentary respectively.
Yediyurappa, on the eve of his birthday on Wednesday, had said whatever he has achieved is a result of the people's "blessings and faith" and requested well-wishers not to bring bouquets, flowers, shawls, sweets, turbans or any souvenirs to greet him.
The birthday function organised by "Yediyurappa Abhinandana Samiti" (Yediyurappa Felicitation Committee) is being seen in some quarters as an attempt by Yediyurappa and his loyalists to send a message to the party leadership that he was still "strong".
The BJP's current dispensation under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah has retired several senior party leaders who crossed the age of 75.
However, an exception was said to have been made in Yediyurappa's case after the BJP won 25 of 28 seats in the Lok Sabha election under his leadership.
In the 2018 elections, he spearheaded the campaign of the BJP which emerged as the single largest party but fell short of the majority mark following which Congress and JD(S) came to power stitching a post-poll pact.
However, the coalition collapsed in July last year, paving the way for return of Yediyurappa as Chief Minister for the fourth time.
Comments
9/11 caused more Americans to embrace Islam.
The same thing happens here, more Truth Loving people start researching the speech of Zakir Naik and will easily embracing Islam.
Indians are more free and intelligent in deciding.
Unfortunately the RSS lead govt can detain him under pretext of so called all allegation, even without proof.
We have some blind law where innocent people become easy prey.
Such law is made to target the people who talks truth against the corrupt leaders.
Laks...Karkala.....
Every one knows you hypocrites are experts in fabricating proofs and give clean chit to criminals ...... Indians can eat indian cow meat in Gulf BUT not in India.... Go to Google and find out the names of Indians in the list of TOP CRIMINALS of the world ....Hypocrite ....
Laks, Karkala
From your frustrated comments i can understand that you are so far from the reality. Not a single proof can indian govt can show against Dr.Zakir naik. Even nobody can have the guts to have debate with zakir naik. so will wait and watch.
Laks, Zakir Naik did not trouble anyone...when he was preaching around everyone lived very happily here in India....He conveyed peace message to everyone...
Dear Altaf,
Dont teach us what to ban...Our present government have enough proof to put him behind the bar...and your lawyer is der to protect him..so leave it to court
Sitting in Doha its easy for you to comment
Basically it is not the matter of scare. In the recent years we have noticed that the Muslims are targeted & put behind bars without any evidence.
Later it is proved that the RSS goons are involved in the terror activity across the country. But they are not booked in any case.
These types of double standard Judicial System makes the Muslims to be away for certain period. I hope very soon Br. Zakir Naik we get justice & start spreading the peace message.
Mr. Zakir Naik's Preaching, Knowledge and popularity not gone well with sick minds, they cannot counter him through dialogue; obviously misuse of power is the solution!!!
Laks, Karkala
If you really wish to see that everyone in india should leave happily then you have to think about banning RSS and sangh parivar. Zakir naik never done anything so that hindus and muslim divide. He always tried to unite all religion. I think you have not listened to any of his speeches. My sincere request with you is to first listen his all complete speeches. Then come to conclusion.
Please watch the below videos. It is available in Youtube
1.Similarities between Hinduism and Islam
2.Similarities between Islam and Christianity
3.Does God Exits
4.Is terrorism a muslim monopoly
Hope after watching the above you can change your thinking from negative to positive .
Over all this is a political game with the backing of rss communal group.
Started to target peace loving INDIANS and Mr. ZN is on top of their list.
There is many more to come from religious leader to business man;social worker; leading person etc.
Instead of 5 years high court need to ban for life time... so that everyone can leave happily in India
ZN is scared..he will not come back to india.. if he was Innocent he could have came back long back ago...
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