Credit of win goes to 125 cr Indians: Modi after Delhi roadshow

PM-in-waiting Narendra Modi got a grand welcome in New Delhi on Saturday. Photographs: Rediff.com’s Vaihayasi Pande Daniel and Prasanna D Zore   

India’s prime minister Narendra Modi arrived in New Delhi on Saturday morning to a grand welcome ahead of a meet with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s top leadership.

Modi flashed a victory symbol standing at the door of the SUV to thousands of supporters gathered at the Delhi airport to get a glimpse of the man who will be leading India next. Band, baaja welcomed Modi and BJP party men were seen dancing and cheering.

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He was received at the airport by a number of senior BJP leaders, including party chief Rajnath Singh.

A multi-layer security cover has been put in place New Delhi with hundreds of policemen and National Security Guards commandos deployed.

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Escorted by elite commandos, Modi undertook a road show with thousands of supporters greeting him at various places along the route from the airport to the party headquarters at 11, Ashoka Road. BJP workers on motorcycles waving party flags were part of the road show.

On reaching the BJP headquarters, he briefly addressed the supporters, saying he was thankful to them for rekindling "new hope" through their hard work.

"As a person, Modi requests all of you, don't give credit for this victory to Modi. It is a result of hard work of lakhs of workers. This victory belongs to those four-five generations who have toiled hard since 1952," he said.

"The first right of credit for this victory goes to 125 crore Indians and second to those martyred since 1952. In the last 25 years, thousands of our workers were killed in states like Kerala and those who gave up their lives in Tamil Nadu," Modi said.

Policemen will be manning the security arrangements en route Modi’s victory ride and security personnel will be stationed on high-rise buildings on the route to spot any suspicious activities.

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Snipers have been deployed and anti-sabotage checks have been carried out.

Police and NSG commandos sanitised the 11, Ashoka road BJP headquarters and a multi-layered security apparatus has been put in place around it.

"Elaborate police arrangements have been made everywhere on the route and at the place of the function where public is gathering especially at the BJP headquarters.

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"We have blocked the traffic at both the sides of the road at the headquarters and the persons who are coming are being frisked and checked. We have also put in place elaborate patrolling and traffic arrangements. All the security agencies are working in coordination with the Delhi Police," said Joint Commissioner M K Meena.

Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Kumar of the Delhi police range had a hard time convincing BJP supporters to continue their celebrations without blocking traffic movement.

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At the BJP headqaurters, a meeting of the party's parliamentary board, a group of top 12 leaders, was held at 12.30 pm.

The party has to decide when to call a meeting of the newly-elected MPs to formally choose Modi as the parliamentary party leader to be followed by a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance where he will be elected as leader of the coalition.

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Modi will then leave for Varanasi, the Uttar Pradesh constituency where he emerged winner after defeating Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal. He is hold another roadshow here and a Ganga aarti before flying back to and then back to Ahmedabad.

Modi had led BJP to a massive victory in the elections with the party alone getting 282 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. The NDA got 336 seats.