New Delhi [India], March 23 : Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for becoming India's longest-serving head of government, saying he is "not just a person but a vision and an institution," and the nation is blessed to have such a leader.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday became India's longest-serving head of government, completing 8,931 days in office and surpassing the record of former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling's record of 8,930 days.
Speaking at a press conference, Chouhan spoke about PM Modi's committment to duty and recalled that the Prime Minister virtually launched a train on the day of his mother's demise, demonstrating his dedication to the nation above personal grief.
"Narendra Modiji, as head of government, completed 8,930 days yesterday. He is not just a person but an idea, and an institution. Working day and night for a great purpose, Modiji has presented such an example that the heart fills with pride and joy. The day his mother passed away, we saw on TV that his mother's last journey was being taken out. Before we could think of anything else, we saw that there was a pre-scheduled programme of PM Modi and he virtually launched a train. This is a very remarkable incident. So that his pain does not become a burden on the country's work...," Chouhan said.
"The nation is blessed to have a leader like PM Modi. After one or two terms, governments used to not return. But today the BJP government is in 14 states and the NDA in 19 because Modiji is in the hearts of people," Chouhan said.
The Union Minister said he has known PM Modi for 35 years and has worked with him as a party worker in organisational work.
"I have also seen him as Chief Minister. For him, the nation is supreme; he is a servant of the people. When the devastating earthquake destroyed Bhuj and Kutch in Gujarat, he became Chief Minister of Gujarat and the complete reconstruction after the earthquake was done in such a manner that Bhuj and Kutch stood up again in a new way," he added.
The Union Minister said that he still recalled the 'dark days of 2011-12' when there was an uproar about scams everywhere and the public was disappointed and frustrated.
"In that despair, Modiji emerged as a symbol of hope. Under Modiji's leadership, a single-party BJP government was formed. NDA was together, but one party got a majority after 30 years. People believed 'Modi hai to mumkin hai' (If Modi is there, it is possible)," Chouhan said.
Narendra Modi took the oath of office as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001. On May 26, 2014, he took the oath as Prime Minister for the first time.
Several senior leaders congratulated PM Modi on the milestone of becoming the longest serving head of government in India and praised his "decades-long dedication, continuous public service, and commitment to development and good governance".