New Delhi: Congratulatory messages by world leaders, standing ovation at Union Cabinet meeting and pooja-aarti by BJP leaders across the country marked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s longest continuous run as an elected PM on Wednesday.
President Droupadi Murmu wrote a personal letter to him, while former President Ram Nath Kovind and several other leaders including JD-U chief Nitish Kumar and former Union minister in the Indira Gandhi government, Karan Singh, wrote articles in newspapers.
Kovind termed the feat as a journey from “discovery of India to trust in Bharat”, in a reference to Jawaharlal Nehru’s ‘Discovery of India’.
At a meeting here, NDA leaders from across the country hailed Modi’s feat.
Separately, the Union Cabinet unanimously passed a resolution applauding Modi for achieving the feat and gave him a standing ovation for it.
On Wednesday, Modi crossed the record of Nehru’s 4,398 days in power as an elected prime minister following the 1952 general elections. Nehru’s stint from 1947 to 1952 was as head of an interim government as elections were not held till 1952.
Leaders from several countries have extended their greetings to Modi.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake sent a congratulatory letter to Modi for his rare distinction.
Those who greeted PM Modi on social media include Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and former Australian PM Scott Morrison.
“Congratulations to @narendramodi who today becomes the longest-serving elected Prime Minister in the history of India. It has been a pleasure to meet again in Rome in recent weeks and to launch together a Special Strategic Partnership that looks to the future to create new opportunities for our Nations and our peoples,” Meloni wrote on ‘X’.
The Sri Lankan president, while congratulating Modi, said in his letter that “this milestone is a testament not only to your years in office, but also to the trust and confidence that the people of the world’s largest democracy have repeatedly placed in your leadership”.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and Israeli envoy Reuven Azar congratulated the prime minister and said this achievement is a powerful testament to Modi’s decades of dedicated public service and leadership.
At the Cabinet meeting, the resolution expressed confidence that under PM Modi’s leadership, India would continue to “scale new heights as a self-reliant, secure and prosperous nation”.
In her letter to Modi, President Murmu said under Modi, the country has witnessed significant transformations across all facets of national life and his government’s efforts reflect the spirit of people-centric and people-powered governance, which seeks to ensure that the fruits of development reach the last person and that no region, community or citizen is left behind.
In their articles, former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu and BJP president Nitin Nabin have hailed the prime minister and said this milestone marks a special occasion in the history of post-Independence India.
They also wrote that despite constant political contestation and intense public scrutiny, Modi has continued to enjoy the confidence of the people and set a new benchmark in democratic politics.
Congratulating the prime minister, key NDA ally and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said some leaders govern a nation, a few reshape its trajectory.
“Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s 4,399 consecutive days in office have been defined by a singular effort to transform India at every level, from the everyday lives of its citizens to the nation’s standing in the world. Today, as he becomes India’s longest-serving Prime Minister, we celebrate not merely a record, but a period of change that has touched every corner of the country,” Naidu said.
Apart from the article, Nitish Kumar, a key NDA partner, also wrote on ‘X’ terming the occasion “historic”.
“Under your leadership, the country has achieved numerous significant milestones in the fields of development, good governance, and public welfare. India’s global stature has also continued to rise,” Kumar said.
Most of the Union ministers took to social media to congratulate Modi for the milestone.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said a tireless “Karmayogi” guided by the principle of ‘Nation First’, Modi’s tenure reflects unwavering dedication to India, steadfast commitment to the welfare of its people, and transformative leadership in service of the nation.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said 12 years of Modi government have been about restoring India’s pride, cultural renaissance and freeing the nation from the mentality of servitude.
“In these 12 years, on one hand, the country’s borders were secured, Article 370 was abrogated from Kashmir, the Ram Temple was built, Naxalism was eradicated, and terrorism was reined in with a befitting response to every terror incident. On the other hand, the collective strength of the nation learned to take pride in its heritage, culture, and capabilities by emerging from feelings of inferiority,” Shah said.
Prayers and public activities were organised in Modi’s parliamentary constituency Varanasi, while ‘maha aartis’ performed across temples in Gujarat, his home state.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju posted a video of offering prayer. “Prayed to Lord Buddha to bless Hon’ble Prime Minister @narendramodi ji with good health and long life,” Rijiju, a Buddhist, said on X.
According to a booklet released to mark the occasion, the reduction in income tax burden over the past 12 years reflects the government’s vision of ‘Ramrajya’.
Reforms like GST, faceless tax, and Digital India have helped build 12 years of trust in the public system, which will support India in becoming a USD 5-trillion economy, the booklet said.
However, the opposition Congress launched a scathing attack on Modi, saying he may have passed a “self-proclaimed and dubiously invented” milestone but he is a “millstone” around India’s neck, presiding over the “murder of democracy”.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Nehru became prime minister of India on August 15, 1947 presiding over a stellar Cabinet – the likes of which have rarely been seen in the world.
