While twitter trended ‘Happy Birthday Arvind Kejriwal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi too took to micro-blogging site to extend his birthday wishes for the Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal.
He tweeted, ” Spoke to Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal and wished him on his birthday. My prayers for his long and good health.”
Kejriwal too was quick to respond to Modi saying the latter’s birthday greetings had left him incredibly ‘touched.’
Kejriwal’s tweet said, ” Thank you so much sir for your wishes. I am touched. I look forward to meeting you soon to brief you on Delhi’s situation.”
.@narendramodi Thank u so much sir for your wishes. I am touched. I look forward to meeting u soon to brief u on Delhi's situation.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 16, 2015
The birthday wish from Modi assumes significance particularly because the two leaders, of late, have been embroiled in serious political rivalry over the administrative powers of Delhi government.
Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party has always blamed Modi for causing disruptions through LG Najeeb Jung and Police Commissioner Bassi in their ability to government Delhi effectively. This, they say, is because BJP has ‘not been able to digest the crushing defeat in Delhi’ after the the party got almost annihilated in the assembly elections earlier this year. Kejriwal too has publicly stated on a number of occasions that Narendra Modi was trying to avenge the loss of Delhi.
During the Delhi election campaign, Modi had resorted to name-calling for Kejriwal while addressing election rallies in the capital.
AAP even launched a massive poster campaign challenging Modi to either improve the law and order situation in Delhi or hand over the control of Delhi police to the ‘elected government’ led by Kejriwal.
The two leaders were also pitted against each other in Varanasi during Lok Sabha elections last year.
The twitter exchange by these two leaders have earned them lots of praises on social media platform.
User Geekology said this was how two leaders talked in a matured democracy.
https://twitter.com/academic_dud/status/632748968896663553
Another user Umesh B Dave wrote;
@ArvindKejriwal @narendramodi This is good. Courtesy commands,decency demands. Happy birth day dear @ArvindKejriwal .
— Umesh B Dave (@UmeshBDave) August 16, 2015
User Hemant hoped this gesture continues even in future.
Good gesture… Hope it continues @ArvindKejriwal @narendramodi
— Hemant (@Hemant_80) August 16, 2015