Ahmedabad: A triumphant Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to his home state on Sunday evening to a victor’s welcome, proclaiming that “with win comes responsibility.” Expressing his intent and firm resolve, he added: ‘‘The next five years will be significant for both India and the world and the country will move into an orbit which will see it regain the dominant position it held globally centuries ago”.
Even as the PM was making his speech, an official communique said that President Ram Nath Kovind will administer the Oath of Office and Secrecy to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other members of the Union Council of Ministers on May 30 at 7 pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Prime Minister was addressing a congregation from where it all began for him — the Khanpur office of the BJP in Ahmedabad; the one-time secretary of this office today straddles the national political canvass like a colossus.
Modi returned at every step and turn in his chequered career to this office, which is for him a constant reminder of his humble beginnings. Celebratory in tone but muted in spirit was the get together here of Modi and his fans with the Surat fire weighing heavily on the atmospherics. Speaking for the first time in Gujarat after his 2019 victory, Modi deigned to point out that the message in 2014 was based largely on the edifice of development he had been able to achieve in Gujarat during his stint as chief minister. ”it is largely the work done across the length and breadth of India by my government that has earned me this mandate in 2019,” he added.
He also said that even the people of West Bengal always wanted the BJP in power in the state, as they aspired for the Gujarat model of development. Modi was extremely optimistic in his outlook as he pointed out that the next five years will be crucial in taking big strides to make India a trouble-free country. ‘‘The past five years were spent in laying the foundation of a strong nation; the next five years, too, will be very important, as was the period between 1942 and 1947,” he predicted.
It was crucial to revive the spirit of a great India of yore and energise the people, fight external forces and awaken the public conscience. We shall now work with one purpose – create one society to usher in a new India,” he added. Prior to the speech, BJP national president Amit Shah listed the achievements of BJP government. “After winning 26 seats (in Gujarat), Narendra bhai has come here, please shout aloud so that the voice reaches West Bengal,” he said. After arriving at Ahmedabad airport, Modi and Shah offered floral tributes to the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the airport.
