Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said it was his “supreme privilege" to have had the opportunity to serve continuously as India’s elected Prime Minister for the longest period in the country’s history.
Addressing the NDA conclave in New Delhi, PM Modi said he had never imagined that he would one day achieve the milestone and thanked alliance leaders for making the occasion memorable.
“You have all made this day truly memorable for me. I am overwhelmed and deeply grateful," the Prime Minister said.
Recalling his political journey, PM Modi said he had continued to move forward despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks.
“Chanting the mantra of ‘Chareveti, Chareveti’ (keep moving forward) and witnessing numerous ups and downs in this political journey, I had never imagined that this milestone would one day be reached," he said.
“I consider it my supreme privilege to have had the opportunity to serve continuously as an elected Prime Minister for the longest tenure," he added.
“Serving Mother India for such a long time, having the privilege of serving her, is possible only with God’s special grace. And for me, the people are the embodiment of God. And that is why I have always viewed this service as a spiritual practice. This spiritual practice has never been solitary; this is a collective ‘yagya’, in which all of you and many other colleagues have contributed their services with a sense of duty," he said.
The remarks came as NDA leaders gathered in the national capital to celebrate 12 years of the Modi government and mark the Prime Minister becoming India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister, surpassing the record previously held by Jawaharlal Nehru.
The Prime Minister said the people of the country understood the importance of political stability at the national level. “It is a testament to the maturity of the people, the ultimate sovereigns, that they have given me the opportunity to serve them for such a long time. The decades preceding 2014 were marked by significant instability and turmoil, causing the country to suffer greatly. However, the people are now witnessing the performance of a stable government and appreciating its decisive capabilities. Today, I bow to the great people of this nation and express my gratitude to them. When the NDA won in 2014, I had remarked that a new hope had dawned for the common citizen of the country. It is our collective responsibility to nurture and uphold this hope," he added.
