A student from Noida, a doctor from Karol Bagh and an airport employee who took a break from work were among the thousands who greeted Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Saturday morning.
The BJP leader arrived in the Capital a day after his party won a landslide in the general election. Senior party leaders, including Rajnath Singh and the winning candidates of the National Capital Region, welcomed the Gujarat Chief Minister.
With bands playing patriotic tunes and security personnel busy making arrangements, party workers had started gathering outside Terminal 3 at 8 a.m. to welcome Mr. Modi, whose flight from Ahmedabad landed around 11 a.m.
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As he waited for a glimpse of the leader, 21-year-old Prabhakar Pandey said: “I have come from Noida to welcome our new Prime Minister. It’s a new dawn for the country.” The engineering student said Mr. Modi’s “strong leadership” had inspired him to go all the way to his home district of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, and cast vote for the BJP. “He was able to connect with young voters like me using social media.”
Apart from young supporters, long-time BJP voters and workers turned up at the airport. Middle-aged Amarjit Singh Chhatwal said: “Delhi is all for Modi today. I’ve supported the party for decades but never thought we would get such a big majority.”
Another party member, Dr. Mahender Lal Bishnoi, took time of from his practice to “get the first glimpse” of the Prime Minister-to-be.
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A housewife who has worked with the BJP for 17 years, Poornima Rawat, couldn’t contain her excitement as Mr. Modi came out of the airport building. “It is a great day. Look at the clouds in the sky, they are welcoming him to Delhi with pleasant weather,” said the former teacher. Another housewife, Geeta Sharma, was emphatic that Mr. Modi would bring the country together. “One India is his mission.”
Among the crowd were airport employees. “This was the first time I voted for the BJP and it was because of Mr. Modi, so I sneaked out of my office to see him,” said an airport manager, who asked to remain anonymous.
While the supporters chanted slogans Bharat Mata ki Jai and Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi , a band played Saare Jahan Se Acche.
The security arrangements were elaborate. “We have 10 companies with over 1,000 personnel,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Shukla. Rapid Action Force personnel were on standby, and Gujarat police officers swept the area outside Terminal 3 with metal detectors before Mr. Modi arrived. And when he reached, he was accompanied by commandos as well.
As the enthusiastic crowd surged forward, a police officer said: “We can’t stop the people from seeing their leader.”
Mr. Modi’s roadshow covered Dhaula Kuan, 11 Murti Road, Teen Murti Road and Windsor Place before ending at the party office on Ashoka Road. He did not get out of his SUV, but rolled down the windows to wave at supporters who had lined the route.
Outside the BJP headquarters, 11 priests from the Ram Mandir in Chandni Chowk greeted Mr. Modi and prayed for his success.
Mr. Modi thanked the supporters and said the credit for the BJP win goes to all party workers. Before entering the office for a Parliamentary Board meeting, he released white balloons to signify the BJP’s commitment to peace and harmony