'Strong' Leader Modi Becomes Emotional, Breaks Down

'Strong' Leader Modi Becomes Emotional, Breaks Down

NEW DELHI: Known for his "strong" leader image, Narendra Modi today turned emotional and broke down while accepting his election as the leader of BJP Parliamentary Party.

The Prime Minister-designate choked and had to take water before regaining his composure after a brief time.

"Advaniji ne ek shabd kahaa. Main Advanji se prathnaa karonga ki woh iss shabd kaa istmaal naa kare. unhone kahaa ki Narendra bhai ne kirpa ki (Advaniji said that I have done a favour to BJP. I will request him not to use this term)," Modi said and broke down.

He was refering to the comments made by Advani, the party patriarch, earlier while hailing Modi.

Advani, along with other party leaders and newly-elected MPs watched on as Modi regained his composure after a brief while and resumed his speech.

"Kyaa maa ki seva kabhi kirpa ho sakti hai? katai nahin ho sakti hai. Jaise bharat meri maa hai waise hi BJP bhi meri maa hai. Aur islay beta kabhi maa par kirpa nahin karta, sirf samarpit bhav se maa ki sewa karta hai (Can a son do any favour by serving the mother? Not at all. Like India, BJP is also my mother. A son never does any favour. He only serves the mother in a dedicated manner)," he said and broke down.

Modi said this while making a nearly a 30-minute acceptance speech after being elected as the leader at the Central Hall of Parliament.

On the occasion, he also mentioned former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is unwell. "Had Vajpayee ji been well, his presence would have been 'sone par suhaga' (icing on the cake)," he said.

Earlier, Advani also became emotional when he remembered how BJP workers and leaders had toiled hard braving hardships to reach the current situation.

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