New Delhi, 07 October (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing the realisation of a developed India as the foremost goal of his life, said here on Wednesday that he would neither stop nor tire, nor deviate from his path, until India becomes a developed nation.

Addressing the ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha’ organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to mark 25 years of Prime Minister Modi’s public life as the head of a government, he said that more than 1.4 billion Indians would together build a developed India by 2047. Modi was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001, and has since completed 25 consecutive years as the head of a government, first as Chief Minister and subsequently as Prime Minister.

PM Modi said that while the people of the country had dedicated their lives to achieving independence, they must now live for the nation in order to build a developed India. He said the goals before India were clear — to build a developed India and a self-reliant India, secure a place among the world’s top three economies, eradicate poverty and establish India as a global leader across various sectors.

The Prime Minister said that the country certainly faced problems, but India also had 1.4 billion solutions. Describing the country’s youth as one of its greatest strengths, he said their energy and capabilities would play a decisive role in building a developed India. He said India should not move forward with small ambitions, but should set extraordinary and unprecedented goals.

PM Modi said that 25 years of uninterrupted service as the head of a government were the result of the people’s continuous blessings. He said the public trust earned over these 25 years and the experience accumulated during this period constituted a major asset, but that this asset belonged not merely to Modi, but to the nation.

The Prime Minister said that the assessment of his 25 years in public life should not be based on where he himself had reached, but on how far the country had progressed. He said his guiding principle in Gujarat had been that the development of Gujarat should contribute to the development of the country, and that he had continued to work with the same vision as Prime Minister.

PM Modi said selfless action for the nation was everything to him and that duty was his faith. For him, action was not merely a responsibility but a form of spiritual discipline devoted to the nation. He said serving the country without worrying about the fruits of one’s efforts or seeking credit had been his resolve.

The Prime Minister said India could lead the world in the coming years in various fields, including talent, technology, innovation, sports, space and manufacturing. He said collective efforts were essential to achieving the goal of a developed India.

He said, “Nation First will be my resolve, the prosperity of the nation will remain my lifeblood, service to the nation will remain my goal, and duty will remain my faith.” Reiterating his resolve, he said, “Until India becomes a developed nation, I will neither stop, nor tire, nor deviate from my path.”

PM Modi said, “Today is not merely a day for reminiscing. It is a day to infuse our resolves with renewed energy. It is a day to reiterate that promise and express that determination which says that we will accomplish it.

“My right is only to action; therefore, I regard action as my duty and perform every task to the best of my ability. I continue to act without pause.

“Perform your duty; work must not stop, and effort must not stop. Therefore, for me, action is not merely a responsibility; it is my spiritual discipline towards the nation. Action for the country, action for the people of the country, and the sentiment behind it is: ‘Ma phaleshu kadachana!’ — there should be no concern for the fruits of one’s actions, nor any concern for the credit.”

He said, “The country gave me the opportunity, the people placed their trust in me, and circumstances taught me lessons, because of which I have been given the opportunity to serve the people of the country continuously.

“Whatever I am today, wherever I am and whatever responsibility I hold, the greatest contribution to it has been that of the people. For me, the people are a manifestation of God himself.

“The faith of millions and crores of Indians and the hard work of lakhs of party workers have always been my greatest strength.”

The Prime Minister said, “The country has given me so much. Therefore, my responsibility towards the country is also the greatest. And I sincerely believe that every citizen of the country has the greatest claim upon me.

“This public trust of 25 years and the experience accumulated over 25 years are a very great asset. And this asset does not belong only to Modi; it belongs to the nation. Every child of Mother India is entitled to this wealth.”

PM Modi said, “Today, when I look back, I see only a sense of gratitude. I am grateful to every person and every event that has taught me something or the other.

“Those who helped me win taught me to remain humble.

“Those who brought me down taught me to rise again.

“Those who wished me well encouraged me, while my critics taught me to look within myself.

“Those who stood by me showed me the power of trust.

“Those who opposed me made me understand the strength of democracy.

“Every crisis tested my patience, every success expanded my responsibilities, and every accomplishment gave me the courage and determination to move towards greater goals.”

At the programme, organised at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the national capital, BJP national president Nitin Nabin felicitated Prime Minister Modi in his address and said:

“I extend my heartfelt greetings and congratulations to our Prime Minister, who has made public service the purpose of his life, for whom public service has become the path to serving the nation, and who, guided by this very resolve, has made political power an instrument of service and continued to move forward on the path of national service.”

Nitin Nabin said, “On behalf of 1.4 billion Indians and the millions upon millions of BJP workers, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his uninterrupted and unwavering 25-year journey of service and dedication, alongside his public life.

“Over these 25 years, like a lamp that burns itself to provide light, you have continuously strived through your hard work and dedication to spread the light of development, self-confidence and self-respect in the lives of 1.4 billion Indians.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar