Before filing his nomination for the Varanasi parliamentary seat for the third time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in an exclusive conversation with Aaj Tak. He expressed his gratitude towards 'Mother Ganga' for adopting him and for the love he received from the people of Varanasi, which in turn made him a true resident of the city. PM Modi remarked that this affection increased his sense of responsibility. Notably, for the first time, PM Modi will file his nomination without seeking the blessings of his mother, Heeraben, who passed away on December 30, 2022, at the age of 100.
Overcome with emotion during his talk with Aaj Tak, PM Modi reminisced about the teachings of his mother after taking on the roles of Chief Minister and Prime Minister. Reflecting on the values imparted by his mother Heeraben, he said, 'When it was decided that I would become the Chief Minister for the first time, I went from Delhi to Gujarat. I thought I should inform my mother that my job had changed. I visited her and shared that I was going to reside in Gujarat.'
PM Modi shares the two pieces of advice his mother gave him upon becoming Chief Minister:
'My mother was happy that I was coming to Gujarat. Then, I told her about my new role (Chief Minister) and my commitment to it. She said, look, make sure to do two things: don't accept any bribes, and never forget the poor — these were the two lessons from my mother,' PM Modi continued.
'After years of serving as the Chief Minister and then the Prime Minister, when I went to wish her on her 100th birthday, I asked for her orders. She said, be careful about two things: work with intelligence and live with purity. I told my niece to record this - it's such profound advice that even a poet couldn't have expressed it better. There was a consistency in these words, and a detachment — she never considered me her personal property and always believed I was destined to serve the nation,' he added.
PM Modi on why his mother never stayed in government accommodation
The Prime Minister also shared why he never resided with his mother in the Chief Minister's or Prime Minister's official residence. 'I lived in Gandhinagar, and my mother stayed about 2 kilometers away in a single-room house. I invited her to live with me, as I had a government residence. She replied that she could manage, but what about my work? She didn't want to disrupt my duties, and so she never moved in. She always hoped that I would fulfill my responsibilities properly,' he explained.
