Narendra Modi, generally perceived as a "strong" leader, turned emotional and broke down today as he welcomed his election as the leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party.
He choked and had to take water before regaining his posture.
"Advaniji ne ek shabd kahaa aur maine Advanji se prathnaa karonga ki woh iss shabd kaa istmaal naa kare. Unhone kahaa ki Narendra bhai ne kirpa ki. Kyaa maa ki seva kabhi kirpa ho sakti hai? katai nahin ho sakti hai.
"Jaise bharat meri maa hai waise hi BJP bhi meri maa hai. Aur islay beta kabhi maa per kirpa nahin karta sirf samarpit bhav se maa ki sewa karta hai (Advaniji said that I have done a favour to BJP. Like India, BJP is also my mother. Can serving the mother be a favour? Not at all. A son is only dedicated to serve the mother)," he said and broke down.
Modi made nearly a 30-minute acceptance speech after being elected as the leader at the Central Hall of Parliament.
63-year-old Modi's name was proposed as leader by party patriarch Advani and supported by a number of leaders, including Murli Manohar Joshi, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari.
