NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fresh from securing significant international trade deals within days, declared on Tuesday that the world is increasingly acknowledging India's strength and showing it renewed respect. However, he simultaneously warned MPs of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) against developing any complacency regarding the government's accomplishments.
Global Recognition and Strategic Positioning
Addressing the BJP-led NDA parliamentary party meeting, where he was honored for India's recent trade pacts—including those with the European Union and the United States—Modi stated that India now occupies a central position in an uncertain global landscape. He observed that traditional alliances are shifting, making way for new alignments, and highlighted that the new year has been particularly promising for the nation, according to sources present.
Budget's Role in National Development
In this context, the Prime Minister lauded the recent Union Budget for its foresight and its role in bolstering India's trajectory toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman briefed the MPs on the budget's key features, reinforcing its strategic importance.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju noted that MPs expressed immense satisfaction over the conclusion of nine trade agreements spanning 39 countries, attributing this diplomatic success to Modi's decisive leadership.
Self-Confidence and Strategic Patience
Modi's early morning social media post, featuring a Sanskrit verse emphasizing the power of self-confidence, was widely interpreted as a nod to the overnight announcement of an Indo-US trade agreement by US President Donald Trump and himself. "Self-confidence is the strength that makes everything possible. This power is going to be of great help in realising people's dreams of a Viksit Bharat," the Prime Minister stated.
An MP present described Modi as embodying confidence during the meeting, a sentiment observers linked directly to the successful trade negotiations with the US. The Prime Minister recalled the numerous proactive measures India implemented following the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019, which are now yielding positive results. He emphasized that his government has adhered to its long-term strategy and maintained patience, a approach that has positioned India as a reliable partner for many leading nations.
Political Prospects and Electoral Success
Beyond outlining a bright economic future, Modi expressed strong confidence in the NDA's political prospects. He pointed to the alliance's consecutive victories in a series of elections, including state assemblies and local body polls across various regions of the country.
A Caution Against Complacency
Simultaneously, sources revealed that the Prime Minister reminded NDA MPs that while it is simple to carve a line in butter, the NDA is renowned for carving lines in stone—a metaphor for enduring, hard-earned achievements. He stressed that the current winning streak must be sustained and urged parliamentarians to persist in their work for the public good.
To illustrate the alliance's expanding influence, Modi cited the NDA's growth in Tamil Nadu and the BJP's recent victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation election in Kerala.
Emphasis on Duty and Resilience
The Prime Minister also drew an analogy, remarking that some students pass one exam in a junior class and assume subsequent tests in senior grades will be equally easy, often leading to failure. While not naming anyone, several MPs interpreted this as a subtle critique of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.
Reinforcing the necessity for MPs to remain dedicated to their duties, Modi specially commended the contributions of Rajya Sabha member C. Sadanandan Master. He highlighted Master's resilience, noting that the member serves despite wearing prosthetic legs after losing his limbs in a brutal attack allegedly perpetrated by Left-wing members, prior to his association with the BJP.
