Hyderabad, Sep 17 (PTI): On his birthday today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his mother in Gandhinagar to seek her blessings and received calls from his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and President Pranab Mukherjee to wish him.

Modi, who turned 64, went to Gandhinagar, 23 km from Ahmedabad, alone in a normal vehicle without any security to meet his mother Hiraben on his first birthday as Prime Minister, sources said.

On the occasion, she donated Rs. 5,000 for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Jammu and Kashmir, they said.

Birthday wishes

Modi also received a call from Abe who wished him on his birthday, in a reflection of the special bonding the two Prime Ministers enjoy.

Modi visited Japan only a fortnight back and the warmth between the two leaders was at display during that.

President Mukherjee called up Modi to wish him. Vice-President Hamid Ansari also wished him.

95-year-old Hiraben enquired her son about his health and work as Prime Minister and offered him sweets on the occasion. Modi spent 15 minutes with her.

Modi, every year on his birthday, has been seeking blessings of his mother. This is his first visit to the home state after becoming the Prime Minister almost four months ago.

Modi is in Gujarat to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping who will be arriving here this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today ‘saluted’ Prime Mininster Narendra Modi’s mother Hiraben.

In an early morning tweet, Patel said, “On the occasion of his b’day, I salute Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Hiraben for giving us a nationalist son.''

Patel also posted a photograph of Modi with her mother. She also visited Raj Bhavan this morning to personally greet Modi on his birthday, an official said.

Watch Video