The Hindu (National) ·
BJP chief Nitin Nabin slams Opposition for criticising PM Modi’s birthday celebrations
The Madhya Pradesh government is the ‘most corrupt, incompetent’ in country, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says, asking the State government to ‘take a look at the ground reality’, while criticising the lamp festival
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin on Thursday (September 17, 2026) targeted the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his party’s criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday celebrations, including the lighting more than 25 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) in Ujjain at an event organised by the Madhya Pradesh government.
In the ‘Ashirwad ka Diya’ (lamp of blessings) event, 33.27 lakh earthen lamps were lit in Ujjain on the occasion of Mr. Modi’s birthday. The State government claimed the city had created a world record.
Mr. Nabin made the remarks in Indore on his first visit to Madhya Pradesh since taking over as the BJP president, two days before Mr. Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ (echo of students) campaign event in the city. Mr. Nabin also launched the ‘Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana 2026’ (execution and registration of ownership rights record scheme). Under the scheme, the State government is championing the free registry of properties in rural areas for a month.
