Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi left Gujarat on Thursday evening for the bigger role in Delhi after taking the blessing of his mother Hira Ba in Gandhinagar. Earlier in the morning, the PM-designate attended the high-profile swearing-in ceremony of his successor Anandiben Patel.
Modi arrived at his younger brother Pankaj’s house where his mother gave him ‘lapsi’ (sweet) as per Hindu tradition and Rs101 as a token of love and good luck. lapsi is offered to people before they commence some auspicious work. The mother-son duo shared some emotional moments.
“Gujarat is our family. When I am leaving for Delhi, as per our tradition, I would like to say ‘Aavjo’ to 6.25 crore people ...‘Aavjo Gujarat (goodbye Gujarat),” Modi said at the airport before emplaning for New Delhi.
In a subsequent tweet, he said: “Driver & security staff set up a small Temple of Ramcharitmanas in my Govt car where for over 12 years they prayed for my security daily…I don’t have any words to express my gratitude to them. I bow to them & salute them from the bottom of my heart.”
Modi’s former colleagues, including Anandiben Patel and her entire Council of Ministers, gave him a warm send-off. Gujarat’s MPs, MlAs, Ahmedabad Mayor Minaxi Patel, councillors and party office-bearers reached Sardar Patel Airport to wish Modi.
Chief Secretary of Gujarat Varesh Sinha, DGP PC Thakur, senior bureaucrats, senior government officials, office-bearers of various organisations, religious leaders, too reached the airport to give Modi an emotional send-off. Modi also accepted their wishes with warmth and smile before boarding flight.