MODI STRESSES NEED TO WIN TRUST OF MINORITIES
We will now begin a new journey to build a new India: Prime Minister
All set for a second term as prime minister, Narendra Modi yesterday said his government will now begin “a new journey to build a new India with new energy” and asked newly elected MPs of the NDA to work without any discrimination, including on the basis of faith and castes.
In his over 75-minute address after being elected the leader of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, Modi also stressed on the need to win over the trust of minorities, saying they were made to live in “fear” and “exploited” during elections for vote-bank politics, apparently a dig at the opposition parties.
He invoked the spirit of 1857 struggle for freedom, saying all communities had then joined hands for independence and a similar movement should be started for good governance now. “We stand for those who trusted us and also for those whose trust we have to win over,” he said.
Modi also gave several directions to the MPs, including to not give media statements merely for publicity and shun the “VIP culture”.
With speculation rife over who will join his Council of Ministers, Modi said he was yet to go through details of all the NDA MPs and asked them to not trust media reports in this regard, adding they are aimed at creating confusion and often put out with “bad intentions”.
Responsibilities will be given as per norms, he said.
Modi said elections often divide and create a gulf but 2019 polls united people and society.
There was a pro-incumbency sentiment in this election and its result was a positive mandate, he said, adding that there is no better path than serving
people when in power. “We ran the government for poor people between 2014-19 and I can say the poor elected the government this time,” he said.
Slogan
He also called for the NDA to work with cohesion for the country’s development and said his “naara” (slogan) for the alliance is “national ambition and regional aspirations”.
The NDA has 353 MPs, including 303 of the BJP.
Earlier, Modi was unanimously elected leader of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at a meeting attended by its newly elected MPs and senior leaders in Parliament’s Central Hall.
Modi will now call on President Ram Nath Kovind to stake his claim to form the government, following which he will be sworn in as the next prime minister, likely next week.
“Modi is elected the leader of the parliamentary party of 353 MPs unanimously,” BJP president Amit Shah announced after the election as Modi acknowledged the support and cheers from MPs.
Top alliance leaders, including JD (U)’s Nitish Kumar, Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray and Akali Dal’s Parkash Singh Badal, extended their party’s support after Modi was elected as the leader of the BJP parliamentary party at first.