PM Modi asks citizens to prioritise national interest, urges them to put 'India first'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that national interest should reign supreme in the mind of Indian citizens, and urged the citizens to take the pledge of "India first". He made this statement at the foundation-laying ceremony of new Parliament building.

"We will have to take the pledge of `India first`. Our decisions should make the nation stronger and be measured on the same scale - that nation`s welfare comes first. Our efforts in next 25-26 years should be towards how do we want to see India in 2047, in our 100 years of Independence." Modi said.

"We, the people of India, take this pledge - there will be no greater interest for us than national interest. We, the people of India, take this pledge - The country`s concern for us will be more than our own concern. We, the people of India, take this pledge - nothing will be more important to us than the unity and integrity of the country," he added."We, the people of India, take this pledge - for us the dignity and fulfillment of the Constitution of the country will be the biggest goal of life," he added.

Modi further stated that there can be differences over policies and politics but the ultimate goal of serving the public is the same for all concerned parties.

"Different views, different perspectives, they empower a vibrant democracy. There is always room for differences but never disconnected, our democracy has moved ahead with this goal," he said. "There can be differences over policies and politics. But we are for the service of the public, there should be no differences in this ultimate goal," he added.

Modi laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament building in Parliament House Complex today.

Tata Trusts' Chairman Ratan Tata, Union Minister HS Puri, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh and various religious leaders were also present at the event.

Tata Projects Ltd has been given the contract for the project.

Among other leaders, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, foreign Envoys and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also attended the ceremony.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a plaque to mark the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Parliament building. 

According to a release by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the new building is an intrinsic part of the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and will be a landmark opportunity to build peoples' Parliament for the first time after independence, one which will match the needs and aspirations of 'New India' in the 75th anniversary of independence in 2022.