Together will make new India: PM Modi

Tirupati: Wrapping up his two-day overseas visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reiterated his party's stand to serve the people and reiterated his commitment towards building the nation and not their own party.

Addressing a public meeting in Tirupati before darshan of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala, Modi said, "Hum BJP ke karyakarta sirf chunavi jeev nahi hain. Hum chunavi dhol peetne ke baad hi maidan mein aane wale log nahi hain.

Hum janta ke sukh-dukh ke sath jude hue, bhavya Bharat ke nirman ke liye sankalp-baddh karyakartaon ki ek samarpit vyavasta hain (The BJP cadre is not election machinery.

We don't serve people only around the elections, we are with the people of the country in their moments of happiness and sorrow. We are the organisation that is committed towards building this nation).

Modi said this victory of the BJP has increased the aspirations and expectations of the people as reflected in the recent general election verdict. "They wonder what can Modi do. We should see it as a great opportunity. I see it as a guarantee for a brighter India," the Prime Minister observed.

Modi said he has confidence in 130 crore Indians. "With their contribution and support, I am confident, we can give a new direction to the country," he said. Two good occasions beckoned the country in the near future, Modi pointed out, referring to the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in October 2019 and the 75th anniversary of the nation's Independence in 2022.

"If every one of the 130 crore Indians takes one step forward, the country too will go that many steps ahead," Modi said. He sought the blessings of Lord Venkateswara to realize the dreams of 130 crore people of India and said the states and the Centre should work together towards this and create a New India.

"If that happens, I am sure we will succeed in right earnest and prosper," the Prime Minister added.

Taking an indirect dig at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Modi said that some people could not still come out of the election hangover. "For us, it is over. Our focus now is entirely on development and people's welfare," he added.

Noting that strong governments were formed at the Centre as well as in Andhra Pradesh, the Prime Minister wished the state would surge ahead on the development path under the leadership of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

"AP has infinite possibilities for growth. We will fully extend all co-operation from the Centre for the development of the state," the Prime Minister assured. "It can move forward towards becoming a new AP under Jaganmohan Reddy. The state and Centre should work together. Then we can make a New India," he added.