Agencies | New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described it as his “supreme privilege” to have served continuously as India’s elected Prime Minister for the longest period in the country’s history, expressing gratitude to the people and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders for their continued support.
Addressing the NDA conclave in New Delhi, Modi said he had never imagined reaching such a milestone and thanked alliance partners 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.
Reflecting on his political journey, Modi said he had continued moving forward despite numerous challenges and setbacks, guided by the mantra of ‘Chareveti, Chareveti’ (keep moving forward).
“Witnessing many ups and downs in this political journey, I had never imagined that this milestone would one day be reached. I consider it my supreme privilege to have had the opportunity to serve continuously as an elected Prime Minister for the longest tenure,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that serving the nation for such a long period was possible only through the blessings of the people and divine grace.
“Serving Mother India for such a long time is possible only with God’s special grace. For me, the people are the embodiment of God, and I have always viewed this service as a spiritual practice. This has never been a solitary journey; it has been a collective effort in which all of you and many colleagues have contributed with a sense of duty,” he said.
The remarks came as NDA leaders gathered in the national capital to commemorate 12 years of the Modi government and mark the Prime Minister becoming India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister, surpassing the tenure of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Highlighting the importance of political stability, Modi said the people of India had demonstrated remarkable maturity by repeatedly endorsing stable governance.
“It is a testament to the wisdom of the people, the ultimate sovereigns, that they have given me the opportunity to serve for such a long time. The decades preceding 2014 witnessed significant instability and political uncertainty, which hampered the country’s progress. Today, people are witnessing the performance and decisiveness of a stable government,” he said.
Expressing gratitude to citizens, Modi said the NDA’s victory in 2014 had ushered in a new era of hope for ordinary Indians and stressed the alliance’s responsibility to sustain that trust.
“When the NDA won in 2014, I had said that a new hope had emerged for the common citizen. It is our collective responsibility to nurture and strengthen that hope,” he added.
