Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta poses for a selfie during the inauguration of the ‘Namo Shramik Seva Kendra’ and Gig Workers Rest Centre under the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, in Shalimar Bagh in New Delhi on September 17, 2026.
| Photo Credit: ANI
On the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday (September 17, 2026) inaugurated ‘Namo Shramik Seva Kendra’ and a rest area for gig workers in Shalimar Bagh to provide services under one roof for workers.
She also took part in a mega blood donation camp, launched an organ donation campaign and pledged to donate her organs. The Chief Minister took part in the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ under which 1.25 lakh earthen lamps were lit to illuminate the Kartavya Path.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) attacked the Delhi govt. for “shamelessly” celebrating PM Modi’s birthday barely two weeks after the Satya Niketan building collapse tragedy in which seven people lost their lives.
‘Ashirwad Ke Diye’ on day 1 of month-long campaign
The Delhi BJP said that blood donation camps were held across all 14 Delhi BJP districts in the morning and “Ashirwad Ke Diye” were also lit in the evening on the first day of the month-long campaign. The ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, being organised from September 17 to October 17 to mark the Prime Minister’s birthday.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government remains committed to the respect, convenience and welfare of workers who have made an important contribution to Delhi’s development and construction through their labour, hard work and dedication.
The objective of the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ is to make public service more accessible, convenient and closer to citizens. It is with this commitment that the ‘Namo Shramik Seva Kendra’ has been launched, so that workers do not have to visit different government offices to access government schemes and services, she added.
“The ‘Namo Shramik Seva Kendra’ will function as a facilitation centre for workers, where necessary assistance related to various government services and worker welfare schemes will be available at a single location. Workers will receive assistance with registration and renewal, document verification, information on the status of applications, details of various welfare schemes and guidance on services related to claims at the centre,” the CM said.
Ensuring that government schemes and services reach the last person through a simple process is the true spirit of public service, she added.
The Delhi Government’s Department of Health and Family Welfare organised an event at the Delhi Secretariat on the occasion, where an online portal was launched, through the portal, citizens of Delhi can join the organ donation pledge campaign online and take a pledge to donate their organs.
To ensure better coordination of organ donation and organ and tissue transplantation, and to promote organ and tissue donation, the Delhi Government has also made the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) operational at G.B. Pant Hospital.
AAP attacks BJP
On Thursday (September 17, 2026), sharing a video on X, AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj said: “Innocent students of Delhi University died at Satya Niketan PG on 06th September. And as per Hindu Sanatan customs, 18th Sept is supposed to be their Terahvi. Till then, there is ‘sutak’ period and ‘Atma’ is supposed to be present there in and around. These Prime Minister Birthday Celebrations reflect the shamelessness & insensitivity of our society.”
Mr. Bharadwaj alleged that in such circumstances, celebrating with great fanfare on September 17 in the name of Prime Minister Modi’s birthday, lighting lamps at various places as if celebrating Diwali and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta performing a havan is “extremely crude and petty”.
Mr. Bharadwaj claimed that if it were a small child, one could say that the child wanted to celebrate and therefore the birthday was observed, but celebrating a birthday in this manner at the level of the Prime Minister and making such a spectacle was “extremely shameful”.
Published – September 18, 2026 04:26 am IST
