Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaped praises on President Pranab Mukherjee, who completed four years in office on Monday, calling him a “guardian and mentor” who held his finger and guided him on various subjects when he took over as Prime Minister two years ago.
“I was new to the world of Delhi. The atmosphere was new to me. On many subjects, the President, like a guardian, a mentor, held my finger and guided me. Very few people are as privileged as I am,” he said while inaugurating the second phase of the Rashtrapati Bhavan museum.
Lauding the initiatives taken to preserve history at Rashtrapati Bhavan and also its restoration, Mr. Modi said Mr. Mukherjee had given a lot to the nation in his long public life and also to the historic building during his four-year tenure.
He said Mr. Mukherjee made Rashtrapati Bhavan a converging point between a common man and the highest seat of power.
“Important thing is my political background is different, President’s political background is different but we can feel every moment in his company how people with different political upbringing can work shoulder to shoulder to in democracy,” he said.
Mr. Modi said an effort was made that almost all the schemes of his government were implemented in President’s Estate even when some State governments hesitated to announce them.
“If there is government of a person of different political party yet the schemes of that government becoming schemes of Rashtrapati Bhavan, this greatness can only be shown by Pranab da,” he said.
