I Will Live for India: Narendra Modi at BJP Parliamentary Party Meeting

New Delhi: "The BJP has done me a favour by giving me the opportunity to serve it," prime minister-to-be Narendra Modi told newly-elected party legislators at a meeting of BJP's Parliamentary Party today.

Here are the highlights of the speech:

• Grateful to all of you to have entrusted me with this responsibility. I especially thank Advaniji and Rajnath ji. I was thinking it would have been fitting if Atal ji 's health was better and he was here today. (Watch Narendra Modi's Speech Here)
• This is the temple of democracy and all of us - not for posts - we carry with us the expectations of the 125 crore people of India. (Watch: When Narendra Modi Broke Down)
  
• Office is not important, responsibility is; we must dedicate ourselves to discharging this responsibility. (Narendra Modi for PM: Advani Proposes, BJP Makes It Official)
• On September 13, I was given a responsibility and on September 15, I  began work as a party worker and on May 10, when the election  campaign ended. I told Rajnath ji I have to report.  
• As a disciplined soldier, I reported to the party president that the job you have entrusted me I have tried to discharge but I could not do one thing. (Request Advani Ji Not to Use the Word "Kripa", Says Modi in Tears)
• On May 9, I had to cancel one meeting. There may have been some deficiencies, I may not have been able to live up to all of your expectations.
• It was said I was here for the first time, this keeps happening to me. I saw the Vidhan Sabha after I became chief minister. (Highlights of Narendra Modi's Speech)
• Salute all those who made sacrifices for India's independence and the makers of India's constitution - who laid the foundation that makes this the largest democracy in the world. Look at the strength of the constitution. A person from a poor family is standing here today.
• In these elections, the biggest achievement is that the common man's faith in democracy has been reinforced, this is a big thing for any nation. (Also Read: 'Don't Lobby for Cabinet Berths', Modi Tells MPs)
• I believe a government should think about the poor, listen to their problems. The new government is dedicated to the poor of India, the crores of youth and the women of India.
• Advani ji ne kaha Narendra Bhai ne kripa ki... main unse anurodh karunga us shabd ka prayog na kare... Kya ma ki seva kripa ho sakti hai.... katai nahin... jaise bharat meri ma hain... BJP bhi merii ma hain... Beta kabhi ma pe kripa nahi kar sakata ... kripa toh party ne ki hain jo sewa ka avsar diya hain...(Advani ji said Narendra Bhai has done us a favour. "Please don't use the word kripa (favour). A son doesn't do a favour to his mother. A son works with dedication. I treat the BJP as my mother just as India is my mother. The party has done me a favour by giving me an opportunity to serve)
• This is not a fractured mandate -- a result of anger against the government. This verdict is full of hope. In 2013, when the BJP national council met, I said - hum chale ya na chale, desh chal pada hain...This is the result of that (whether we move forward or not, India is moving on). (Also Read: PM-Elect Narendra Modi Made Magnanimous Victory Speech)
  
• Now the era of responsibility begins. There may be many people here who were born in independent India and this will be the first government to be led by someone born in independent India.  We did not have the good fortune of fighting for India's independence - we could not die for the country but we have been given an opportunity to live for this country.
• There are troubles in everyone's lives - in 2001, after the earthquake, people believed Gujarat was finished. But Gujarat was back on its feet in no time. I want to tell India we must be optimistic, (we must) look forward. If each person in the country takes one step, India would have taken 125 crore steps forward.
• We want development for all but participation of everyone is equally important - Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas.
• When we meet in 2019, I will give you and my countrymen a report card... I will live for India.
• You can see Modi not because Modi's stature is very large. You can see Modi because the party's senior leaders have hoisted me on their shoulders.
• This has taken 5 generations coming. I salute the sacrifices of thousands of people in establishing the party.
• This victory  is not ours - it is due to the sacrifice of 5 generation of leaders - the efforts of millions of workers ... no one in this party is above the organisation.
• A government should be one that works for the poor and this is why the new government is committed to the poor of the country and dedicated to the youth of the country as well as our mothers and daughters. The celebrations, excitement will go on but the era of responsibility has begun.