New Delhi | Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on his birthday on Friday and hailed him as "a guiding light and a source of inspiration" whose efforts towards educational advancement have left an indelible mark.

Joshi, who turned 90 on Friday, is a former BJP president and a former Union minister who was one of the prominent faces of the party during its first wave of rise through the late 80s and 90s.

In a post on X, Modi said, "Birthday wishes to Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi Ji." "His extensive contributions to public service and scholarly pursuits have deeply enriched our nation. A guiding light and a source of inspiration, his efforts towards educational advancement have left an indelible mark.

"On this special day, we pray that he is blessed with good health and a long life," the prime minister said