All set for a second term as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on Saturday 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, sayingall communities had then joined hands for independence and a similar movementshould be started for good governance now.
“We stand for those who trusted us and also for thosewhose trust we have to win over,” he said.
Modi also gave several directions to the MPs, including tonot give media statements merely for publicity and shun the “VIPculture”.
With speculation rife over who will join his Council ofMinisters, Modi said he was yet to go through details of all the NDA MPs andasked them to not trust media reports in this regard, adding they are aimed atcreating confusion and often put out with “bad intentions”.
Responsibilities will be given as per norms, he said.
Modi said elections often divide and create gulf but 2019polls united people and society.
There was a pro-incumbency sentiment in this election andits result was a positive mandate, he said, adding that there is no better paththan serving people when in power.
“We ran the government for poor people between 2014-19and I can say the poor elected govt this time,” he said.
He also called for the NDA to work with cohesion for thecountry’s development and said his “naara” (slogan) for the allianceis “national ambition and regional aspirations”.The NDA has 353 MPs, including 303 of the BJP.