New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an interview with NDTV, discussed the possibility of achieving a third consecutive term and matching the record set by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Referring to his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi emphasized that the focus should be on the progress made by India during his term, rather than the number of terms served. He expressed confidence in winning not only three terms but potentially even five or seven, attributing his success to the support of the 1.4 billion people of India.
Jawaharlal Nehru, who served as Prime Minister from 1947 to 1964, was elected after the Congress party’s victories in the general elections of 1951-52, 1957, and 1962.
During the interview, PM Modi also provided an explanation for the choice of the name ‘Shiv Shakti’ for the spot on the Moon where India’s Chandrayaan-3 lander Vikram landed, highlighting the significance behind the decision.
The naming of the touchdown spot could have been different if the Opposition were in power. They would have named it after their own family, but the Prime Minister made it clear that he cannot do that. Instead, he chose to name it after the idea of Shiv Shakti, which represents the philosophy that India has given to the world. This name resonates with the 1.4 billion people of India, unlike a family name which would only connect with a specific section of the population. The Prime Minister believes that the name Shiv Shakti is empowering and guiding for the people.
Addressing the Opposition’s allegation that he takes credit for the government’s accomplishments, the Prime Minister expressed his confusion as to why they have a problem with feeling proud of India’s achievements. He emphasized that it is important to take pride in the accomplishments and questioned why the Opposition wants to take credit instead of feeling proud.
He cited examples from the past, such as the nuclear bomb detonation in 1998 and the handling of the Chandrayaan-2 failure in 2019, where the political leadership took responsibility and stood by the scientists. The Prime Minister stated that he could have chosen to run away from these situations, but instead, he stayed to motivate and take ownership.