ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
May 26, New Delhi: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was among the leaders of South Asian nations who attended the swearing-in ceremony of new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.
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Text of Narendra Modi’s speech at Central Hall of Parliament
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PTI Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi addresses the BJP parliamentary party meeting at the Central Hall of Parliament on Tuesday. Photo: PTI -
PTI Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi gets emotional while addressing the BJP parliamentary party meeting at the Central Hall of Parliament on Tuesday. Photo: PTI
Respected Advaniji, our national president Rajnathji and
all Chief Ministers of Bharatiya Janata Party and newly elected members,
I am grateful to all of you for having unanimously given me a new
responsibility. I am thankful and grateful, particularly to Advaniji and Rajnathji as they have given me blessings.
I was thinking of Atalji’s health. Had his health been good, he
would have been with us today and his presence would have completed this
moment. His blessings are with us and will be with us in future.
We are here in the temple of democracy. We will work with all purity...
not for the post but the people of the country. Work and responsibility
are the biggest things. I accept the responsibility you have reposed in
me.
For me post is not important, I have not considered that post is
important in life but in my view responsibility is the bigger thing.
We will have to dedicate ourselves to fulfill this responsibility. In
last September 13, 2013, the BJP parliamentary board gave a
responsibility to me and from September 15, I started my work and with
full sense of responsibility of a worker. The parishram yagya,
which I began at that time and when the campaigning ended on May 10,
2014, I rang up my president and wanted to meet him before going to
Ahmedabad. He asked if I was not tired and needed a break but I insisted
on reporting to him as the responsibility given to me had been
completed on May 10.
And like a disciplined solider I reported to my president that from
September 13 to May 10, I have tried to fulfill my responsibility to the
best of my ability. In this campaign, I had to cancel only one event
and that too in Ghosi where our district president had died suddenly.
And I told him that as a loyal and committed worker, I am reporting to
you on this sacred land. Whatever was given to me, I have tried to do
and fulfill the role of a party worker.
After I became Chief Minister, I saw Chief Minister’s chamber for the
first time. Today also it is the same situation as I have come to this
historic Central Hall for the first time.
I salute all freedom fighters and also salute makers of the Constitution
of our country as because of them, the world is witnessing the power of
democracy. When global leaders called me, I told them about millions of
voters of India. They were surprised. It is the power of our
Constitution that a poor person belonging to a poor and deprived family
is standing here today. This is the power of our Constitution and
hallmark of our democratic elections that a common citizen can also
reach this height. The BJP’s victory and somebody else’s loss is a point
for debate later. Citizens have realised that this democratic setup can
fulfill their aspirations. Their faith in democracy has strengthened
further.
A government is a one which thinks about the poor, listens to the poor
and which exists for the poor. Therefore, the new government is
dedicated to the poor, millions of youth and mothers and daughters who
are striving for their respect and honour. Villagers, farmers, Dalits
and the oppressed, this government is for them, for their aspirations
and this is our responsibility. And this is our responsibility. I have
seen new facets
of our country in my campaign. I have seen people who had only one piece
of clothing on their body but had the BJP’s flag. This section is
looking at us with hope and aspirations. And therefore, our dream is to
fulfill their dreams.
Advaniji has used, I would urge Advaniji not to use that word. He said that Narendra Bhai has done him kripa.
(Breaks down and there is a pause for a few moments)
Please don’t use this word. Can a son ever do his mother kripa? It can never be. Like India is my mother, the same way the BJP is also my mother. And therefore, a son can never do kripa, he can only dedicatedly serve his mother. Kripa is by the party, it has done me the favour of giving me an opportunity to serve it.
Various governments in the past tried to do some good work in their own
way for which they deserve appreciation. Whatever good has happened, we
will carry it forward. We will give something to the country. People
should not become pessimistic. I have not seen television and media,
everyone has been analysing this verdict… people have voted for hope.
This verdict is of hope. I had said earlier that this election is of
hope.
A new hope has arisen in the common man. This is the biggest significance of this election results.
But by giving the BJP an absolute majority they have voted for hope and
trust. People have voted for hope and faith and I will do everything to
fulfill their aspirations. There should be no room for pessimism and
because with pessimism nothing can be achieved. The government’s motto
will be to be with everyone and for everyone’s development. This is the
time for new hope and strength.
An era of responsibility has begun. In 2019, I will meet the MPs again
with a report card. My government is not for myself but for the country.
The government is for the poor and we want to do something for them.
I will strive my best to fulfill the responsibility you have reposed in
me. You will never have to look down on the work it will do.
We were not fortunate to have died for the country, but for every
citizen born in independent India, he should dedicate himself to live
for the country. Every moment of our lives and every speck of our body
should be dedicated to 125 crore people of this country, we have to
carry this dream. The country will then progress rapidly.
I am by nature an optimist. It is written in my DNA. Disappointment does
not just gel with me. On this occasion, I wish to repeat what I had
said in my speech in a college here. Just see this glass of water, some
say that it is half filled with water and some say it is half empty. My
thinking is of third type. I say this glass is half filled with water
and half with air. You may be seeing it half empty but I don’t see it
that way. That’s why I say that I am by nature an optimist. And for
traversing a constructive path, it is important and essential to be an
optimist. Only an optimistic person can bring and instill hope in the
country. Pessimistic persons can never give hope to the country. Adverse
times and hardships do come in everybody’s life. In 2001 when
earthquake struck Gujarat, we were all stricken by death and there was
destruction everywhere. Everyone the world over thought it was all over.
But in no time, Gujarat once again stood up on its feet. We will have
to leave pessimism behind. Who says that such an aware democratic
country — the largest in the world cannot move forward? If 125 crore
Indians resolve to take one step forward, the entire country will travel
125 crore steps forward.
Which is the other country in the world which has six seasons? This land
of ours is blessed, our land is fertile, full of natural resources.
People from our country go abroad and earn name and fame, we only have
to give opportunity to them here.
In this election, we stressed on two things — sabka saath, sabka vikas.
We want everyone’s progress and development but it is as important that
we take everybody along with us. This election symbolised new hope, I
have such able colleagues with me and with guidance from my senior
leaders, I have full faith that the responsibility which was given to me
on September 13, 2013 and which was completed on May 16, 2014 and with
the new responsibility given to me today, I assure you that when we meet
in 2019, I will place before you my report card. I will try and achieve
the pinnacle of perseverance and hard work.
The coming year 2015-16 is important to us all, it will be Pandit Deendayal Updhyaya’s centenary year, chairaveti, chairevetimantra
was given by him and this led to establishing a system of sacrifice and
hard work. We have to think about how to fulfill his dreams and work
and strive to fulfill them. Party and the government should also think
about this as to how to celebrate this coming event. Antyodaya,
the service of the downtrodden, that is what Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya
had stressed. That is why I say that this government is for the poor and
deprived. In global perspective also, this election of India and its
results are being viewed in a very constructive and positive manner. And
the first message that goes out to the world is that it is not
important that millions of people have made some party victorious or
made someone a prime minister. But it is important that millions have
given a good mandate and have held India’s position high in the world
that is the message of these elections. Who won and who lost is not
important. These are the results which will attract the world to India
and to its democratic traditions, and capabilities. Hope has been
kindled in a common citizen of India and the same hope has arisen in
humanitarian forces in the world. This is a very good sign.
Brothers and sisters, once again I express my gratitude to millions of
workers who have toiled hard for this victory. Modi which is before you
and which you can see is because Modi is hoisted by senior leaders of my
party on their shoulders. Whatever we have achieved today, is because
of sacrifices made by past five generations. Jan Sangh was not known to
the people, some thought it is a social, cultural organisation. Today, I
salute all those generations who made sacrifices for nationalist
causes. We should not forget that we are here today because of
sacrifices made by the past generations. This victory is of millions of
our workers. If we think like this, there will not be any opportunity
for our society and party to have any complaints. BJP is the party which
relies on its strong organisation, that is our strength and none of us
is either away or above the organisation.
You have given me this new responsibility, Advaniji has given me
blessings. You have reposed faith in me and have expectations from me
and I assure you that you will not have any occasion of feeling let
down. Once again, I thank you all.
