Modi Hugs Only Privileged People, Not Farmers & Jawans: Rahul

PM Narendra Modi had earlier defended his trademark hugs saying he was unaware of protocols as he is a “common man”.

PM Narendra Modi hugs his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.

(Photo: PTI)

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday, 22 January, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi embraces only privileged people and not farmers, labourers or jawans.

Gandhi's remarks came after Modi defended his trademark hugging of world leaders in a TV interview, saying he was unaware of laid down protocols as he is a common man.

“He claims he is a common man, but embraces only the privileged. Modi ji, what is your compulsion... it’s important that farmers, labourers and jawans are also hugged,” Gandhi wrote on Twitter.

Days after being mocked by the Congress over his hugs, Modi said in a TV interview that had he been "trained", he too would have followed the laid down protocols of shaking hands and "looking left and right" with world leaders.

I do not know all the protocols as I am a common man. The openness of this common man is liked by the world. Friendly relations come in handy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an interview to Zee News

Modi further said, "I only try to ensure that no harm ever happens to my country (due to this).”

Last week, the Congress had posted a tweet mocking Modi for hugging world leaders, evoking a sharp reaction from the BJP that slammed it as "immature" and demanded an apology.

"When I became the Prime Minister, there was criticism that Modi neither knows nor understands anything which is outside Gujarat," Modi said.

"Everybody used to ask me how will I conduct my foreign policy. And in a way, this criticism was right because I did not have any experience. I got the benefit of not having experience. I did not have any baggage," he said.

Asked how he feels when he stands next to world leaders, he said, "My only feeling is that it is not Narendra Modi who is standing there, but the representative of 1.25 billion people.”

Modi also said his basic nature has been “to convert adversity into opportunity.”

(We Indians have much to talk about these days. But what would you tell India if you had the chance? Pick up the phone and write or record your Letter To India. Don’t be silent, tell her how you feel. Mail us your letter at [e-mail]. We’ll make sure India gets your message.)