I am contended to serve 5.5 cr people of Gujarat: Modi

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he was not interested in joining the club of politicians aspiring to become prime minister of the country and was contented to serve the state.

"Everyday you come to hear Sharad Pawar will be next prime minister. When Yashwantrao Chavan was Maharashtra CM he was also called next PM, or Mayawati as next PM or Nitish Kumar as the next PM. But I will not join that club," Modi said at an event held in Gandhinagar to felicitate teachers ahead of Teachers Day on Sunday.

"Let me tell you that instead, I am contented and happy in serving the 5.5 crore population of Gujarat as CM," he said replying to a query by a student who had asked him if he would contest the elections for becoming Prime Minister.

"By serving Gujarat, let us serve the nation. One thing is to be kept in mind and that is one should aspire to do something for the society and not to become somebody," the CM said.

The function was webcast live to all government-run schools in the state and was viewed by 1.5-crore students.

When a student from his alma mater, a primary school in Mehsana district, asked if he too could aspire to become Chief Minister, Modi said, "In life don't aspire to become something but instead think of doing something. It is then that you will get satisfaction."

"Many people have a belief that children of government schools cannot attain much in life but actually it is not so. I am also a product of a government school," he said.

Earlier, during his address, Modi said Gujarat was the only state in the country to provide insurance cover to students right from their primary education to the post graduation level.

Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal said, "Today, education plays a very significant role in a big democratic nation like India because in this country persons from village who virtually don't have any education become sarpanch, MLAs, CM, and play active role in democracy."

"So, in such a big democracy, where a common person rules, one should have an impressive personality trait for which education is must," she said.

On the occasion, Modi inaugurated a portal www.gujaratquiz.in, which contains a questions bank and answers on various topics related to the state.

Image: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi