As the polling for the seventh phase of Lok Sabha concluded on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the people had voted in record numbers to re-elect the NDA government. Calling the INDIA bloc “casteist, communal and corrupt”, Modi said the opposition had failed to strike a chord with the voters, and the people had rejected their regressive politics. His remarks came after he emerged from his 45-hour-long meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. He said the people have seen the track record of the NDA government, and the manner in which his government’s work has brought a qualitative change in the lives of the poor, the marginalised and the downtrodden. The people, he said, have also seen how reforms in India have propelled the country to being the fifth largest global economy. “Every scheme of ours has reached the intended beneficiaries without any bias or leakage,” he said. “The INDI Alliance, aimed to protect a handful of dynasties, failed to present a futuristic vision for the nation. Through the campaign, they only enhanced their expertise on one thing – Modi bashing. Such regressive politics has been rejected by the people,” he said. PM Modi's handwritten message at Thiruvalluvar Statue, that he visited earlier today after concluding his meditation exercise in Kanyakumari. (Image Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/DkFzkGEpWu — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 1, 2024 Modi applauded party workers for meticulously explaining the development agenda to the people. “Our karyakartas are our greatest strength,” he said. He also commended the Election Commission: “Their dedication and meticulous planning have been crucial in upholding the integrity of our democracy, allowing citizens across the nation to vote with confidence and security. Our electoral process is something every believer in democratic values takes inspiration from.” He thanked all those who exercised their franchise, particularly “nari shakti (women power)” and “yuva shakti (youth power)”. “Their active participation is the cornerstone of our democracy. Their commitment and dedication ensures that the democratic spirit thrives in our nation,” he said. Earlier in the day, the PM wrapped up his spiritual sojourn at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. The memorial, set against the backdrop of Kanyakumari’s famed sunrise and sunset vistas, sits on a tiny islet where the Eastern and Western coastlines of India meet, and where the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and Arabian Sea converge. At dawn, Modi performed the Surya Arghya, a ritual involving the offering of water to the sun, symbolising reverence and gratitude. Clad in saffron, he poured water from a traditional, small beaker-like vessel into the sea, chanting prayers with prayer beads in hand. After completing his meditation, Modi paid floral tributes to the 133-foot statue of Thiruvalluvar, a towering figure in Tamil literature, which stands adjacent to the rock memorial. Arriving at the statue complex by ferry, he placed a garland at the poet’s feet. He returned to the mainland by ferry and took the helicopter to Thiruvananthapuram before taking an Indian Air Force aircraft to Delhi around 4 pm. On completing his meditation, he wrote, “Visiting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, I feel a divine energy. It is on this rock that Mother Parvati and Swami Vivekananda had meditated. Later, Eknath Ranade transformed this rock into a ‘Shila Smarak’ that brought Swami Vivekananda's thoughts to life. Swami Vivekananda, a leader of spiritual renaissance, has been my ideal, my energy, and the source of my spirituality.” “My meditation at this ‘Shila Smarak’ is one of the unforgettable moments of my life. Sitting at the feet of ‘Ma Bharati’, I once again reaffirm my resolve that every moment of my life and every particle of my body will always be dedicated to the service of the nation,” he wrote. “With wishes for the progress of the nation and the welfare of its citizens, I offer my utmost reverence to ‘Ma Bharati’.”
