On Monday, at the launch of a book ‘Fables of Fractured Times’ by former union minister Manish Tewari, the former PM Manmohan Singh gave a word of advice for his successor and incumbent PM Modi. He said that PM Modi should exercise restraint in public speeches when he visits states not ruled by his party and set an example with his conduct which should be consistent with his obligations as PM.
His words were: “My advice to the prime minister is that he should exercise due restraint becoming of the office of the prime minister.”
Singh further said whenever he as prime minister used to go to BJP-ruled states, his relations with chief ministers were very good.
He claimed that Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan would certify that during the UPA rule, BJP-ruled states were not discriminated against.
Taking a dig at Modi, he said,”The prime minister, when he goes to states which are ruled by parties other than to which he belongs, I think, has an obligation not to use language of the kind which has now become a common practice. So what I would say is that the prime minister of the country must set an example… he is the prime minister for all citizens of our country and his conduct must be worthy and consistent with the obligation that he/she has as prime minister”
Recalling what he said against Modi in 2014, he said that he would “not repeat” them. He had reportedly said that it would be a “disaster” for India if Modi became PM.
Farooq Abdullah, who was also present at the event said, “The quality goes down to the level of forgetting what Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru contributed to this nation, what Indira Gandhi gave to the nation. She gave her life. Rajiv Gandhi and other prime ministers gave their time and effort to build this nation. But what are we talking about? Meri maa ko gaali diya, mere baap ko gaali diya [they abused my mother; they abused my father]. Is that what a prime minister is supposed to do? As the prime minister of this nation, he [PM Modi] has to think in a bigger way.”
Ramesh said, “He [Modi] is not prime ministerial in his campaign. After all Prime Minister is Prime Minister. Whoever the individual, the position of PM must be respected.”