India’s
prime minister-elect, Narendra Modi, broke down in tears in parliament as he
accepted the leadership of representatives of his own Bharatiya Janata party
(BJP) and agreed to lead a new government in the world's biggest democracy
In his speech, in which he broke off to choke back tears,
the activist turned politician urged party colleagues to dedicate themselves to
serving the nation as their "mother". Other BJP figures seen weeping.
"I said this earlier and I say it again: that 125 crore
(1.25 billion) Indians' hopes and aspirations are embedded in this temple of
democracy," he said, later recalling his humble origins and the country's
independence fighters.
"For rural areas, farmers, dalits (those at
the bottom of India's tenacious social hierarchy), weak and the pained, this
government is for them. To meet their aspirations and hopes, this is our
responsibility because our weakest, poorest have sent us here," said the
new leader, who as a boy worked as a tea seller..