New Delhi: Accusing opposition parties of using minorities for electoral gains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the BJP and his allies should remove the sense of fear among them as everybody needs to be taken along for the country's prosperity.
"Unfortunately, minorities of this country have been kept in fear, used in elections. We have to end this cycle," Modi said, calling for winning the trust and confidence of minorities.
He accused the opposition parties of keeping the minorities confused and frightened, instead of working on the improvement of education and health among them.
Modi also said that poor people of this country have been cheated.
"We have worked for 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', now we have to strive for 'Sabka Vishwas'.
"The ones who vote for us, are a part of us. The ones who don't, are also a part of us," he said, stressing that no one must be left behind and there should be no discrimination.
Modi declared NDA leader
Newly elected lawmakers from India's ruling alliance led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party have elected Narendra Modi as their leader, paving the way for his second five-year term as prime minister after a thunderous victory in national elections.
BJP president Amit Shah announced Modi's name as the leader in a meeting of the lawmakers Saturday in New Delhi.
The Election Commission said the BJP won 303 out of 542 seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, after the official vote count finished Friday. The BJP's top rival, the Indian National Congress led by Rahul Gandhi, won 52 seats.
Media reports say Modi is likely to be sworn in for his second term next Thursday.
"I am happy to announce that the BJP parliamentary party has unanimously elected Narendra Modi as its leader," BJP President Amit Shah announced.
Veteran Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal moved a resolution to elect Modi as the leader of the NDA parliamentary party which was supported by Janata Dal-United (JD-U) President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) cheif Ram Vilas Paswan and other leaders of the NDA.
