Voter ID card more powerful than IED: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast his vote in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, and in an appealed to people to vote, claimed that the power of a voter ID was much more than the IED of terrorists.

Modi, who had reached his home state on Monday evening, cast his vote at a booth in Nishan high school in the Ranip locality of Ahmedabad. He arrived at the booth in an open vehicle where he was greeted by BJP president Amit Shah, contesting from Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat.

"India's democracy presents an example before the world. While terrorists' weapon is IED (improved explosive device), the voter ID is the weapon and power of democracy. I am confident that power of voter ID is much more than the IED," Modi said after exercising his right to vote. He described the ongoing elections as "a great festival of democracy", and appealed to people to come out and vote in large numbers. He also appealed to first-time voters to commit to 100 per cent voting.

Earlier in the day, the PM, who stayed overnight at Raj Bhavan, went to his brother Pankaj Modi's residence in Gandhinagar and sought blessings of his nonagenarian mother Hiraba. Modi spent around 20 minutes with his mother, who gave him a shawl, sweets, and a coconut along with her blessings for his victory in the elections.

Before leaving for Ranip, PM Modi also interacted with his neighbours and allowed children to take selfies with him. The neighbours said that Modi told them to go out and to vote for a strong democracy.