In the hurly-burly of realpolitik, hard-nosed politicians rarely let go of their emotions unless spontaneity betters them. And at times it happens in spite of them.
Known for his “steel-will”, Narendra Modi melted down on Tuesday in the Central Hall of Parliament while accepting his election as the leader of BJP Parliamentary Party and went for a glass of water before he could regain his composure and resume address to the elected BJP and NDA MPs and leaders.
The emotional turn in the proceedings came as BJP patriarch lK Advani hailed Modi saying, “I thank the party and Narendra Modi for doing the ‘kripa’ of letting me witness an unforgettable moment in our history.” The swell of feelings seemed to overpower the Prime Minister-designate as he reacted to the term “kripa” (favour) used by his mentor.
“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 with his head slightly tilting down, avoiding eye contact.
A little taken a back by the unexpected turn of events, Advani, along with other party leaders and newly-elected MPs, watched on as Modi regained his composure after a while and resumed his speech.
“Kyaa maa ki seva kabhi kirpa ho sakti haiIJ katai nahin ho sakti hai.
Jaise Bharat meri maa hai waise hi BJP bhi meri maa hai. Aur beta kabhie maa par kripa nahin karta, sirf samarpit bhav se maa ki sewa karta hai (Can a son do any favour by serving the motherIJ Not at all. like India, the BJP too is my mother. A son never does any favour. He only serves the mother in a dedicated manner),” he said and looked choked with emotions.
Thunderous applause greeted his comment with some also going for their handkerchiefs. One of the MP was seen sobbing uncontrollably with Modi citing the most adorable example of all the time to describe his relationship with his party.
In his 30-minute speech, 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.
It was not only Modi who was betrayed by his emotions. Advani too became emotional when he remembered how BJP workers and leaders had toiled hard braving hardships to reach the current situation.
He broke down while embracing Modi moments after party MPs endorsed his proposal to name him their leader, setting the stage for the new BJP-led Government.
“I have a weakness..,. I am prone to tears. I thank the party and Narendra Modi for doing the kripa of letting me witness an unforgettable moment in our history,” said the 86-year-old, explaining in a candid manner, as he always do, why he cried.
Before being appointed the Prime Minister, Modi was outrightly reverential to Parliament, the sanctum-sanctorum of Indian democracy. He bowed, with his forehead touching the stairs, before entering through the main gate of Parliament.
“I visited the Gujarat Chief Minister’s chamber for the first time when I became the Chief Minister. I entered the Gujarat Assembly for the first time after I became the Chief Minister. I have come here also for the first time,” he later said in the historic Central Hall.