'This is a collective yagya': Modi on becoming longest serving elected PM - top quotes

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed gratitude after surpassing Jawaharlal Nehru 's record to become India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister.

Addressing the NDA leaders' meeting, the Prime Minister described his tenure as a "spiritual practice" that was not solitary but a " collective yagya ".

Here are the top quotes from his address.

• You have all made this day truly memorable for me. I am overwhelmed and deeply grateful. Chanting the mantra of Chareveti, Chareveti (keep moving forward) and witnessing numerous ups and downs in this political journey, I had never imagined that this milestone would one day be reached.
• I consider it my supreme privilege to have had the opportunity to serve continuously as an elected Prime Minister for the longest tenure.

Serving Mother India for such a long time, having the privilege of serving her, is possible only with God's special grace. And for me, the people are the embodiment of God. And that is why I have always viewed this service as a spiritual practice. This spiritual practice has never been solitary; this is a collective 'yagya', in which all of you and many other colleagues have contributed their services with a sense of duty.