Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath launched the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ bike yatra from Varanasi, marking PM Modi’s 76th birthday.
The twin journey connects Kashi, PM Modi’s parliamentary constituency, with Vadnagar in Gujarat, his birthplace, covering 10 states, 193 districts and 1,159 villages.
About 500 bikers on 250 motorcycles are participating in each direction, with one convoy carrying Gangajal to Vadnagar and another returning with water from Gujarat.
The campaign runs through October 7, ending with rituals at Baba Hatkeshwar temple in Vadnagar and Jalabhishek at Baba Vishwanath temple in Kashi.
Rajnath Singh described it as ‘a confluence yatra of service, values and sadhana,’ linking Modi’s birthplace to his governance base.
The Defence Minister also cited poverty reduction affecting crores of people, greater women’s participation in Parliament, and the promotion of the semiconductor industry among the government’s achievements.
The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan follows a template used in past years, including a similar ‘Seva Sankalp’ walk led by Delhi CM Rekha Gupta on PM Modi’s 75th birthday.
The campaign’s stated objective is to connect with public sentiment and reach citizens through local service activities across the covered districts and villages.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath joined Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in flagging off the bike yatra from Kashi.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister Chirag Paswan were also present at the launch event in Varanasi.
One convoy of bikers is carrying Gangajal from Kashi toward Vadnagar, while a second convoy is bringing water from Gujarat’s holy rivers back to Kashi.
The campaign will conclude on October 7 with a water-offering ceremony at Baba Hatkeshwar temple in Vadnagar and a Jalabhishek ritual at Baba Vishwanath temple in Kashi.
Around 500 bikers on 250 motorcycles are participating in each direction of the twin yatra, with 60 to 80 local service programs planned daily at stops along the route.
Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
