PM Modi’s ‘Unscripted Q&A’ in London Keeps Twitterati Guessing

While some hailed Modi’s speech, others raised eyebrows over claims of an ‘unscripted’ public interaction.

PM Modi at Bharat ki Baat, Saabke Saath event in London.

(Photo: Twitter/@PIB_India)

Addressing the 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sab Ke Saath' event at Central Hall, Westminster in London, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to the stage amidst roaring applause. Censor board chief Prasoon Joshi kickstarted the event by mentioning PM Modi’s journey from ‘a railway station to the Royal Palace’. Modi, who described himself as a sevak (servant), discussed a wide range of issues, from terrorism in Pakistan to sexual violence in India.

The tete-a-tete was followed by a reportedly unscripted interaction with the audience, where Modi tried to deliver his message with ease to a seemingly pliant diaspora crowd.

However, some people faraway, raised eyebrows over claims of an impromptu, unscripted session.

Alt News Founder Pratik Sinha was quick to pinpoint similarities between the ostensible ‘unscripted’ interview PM Modi gave to Times Now in January and his Q&A with the London audience.

Alluding to Modi’s silence on questions back in his own country, economist and Congress member Salman Anees Soz asked the PM if members of the London audience were screened in advance.

During the two-hour-long session, the master orator answered all questions with earnestness, but well, laced with quite a few references to himself.

Many joked about CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi’s exemplary moderation skills so much so that it called for a “certification.”

Journalist Sagarika Ghose touted the event as a carefully crafted show orchestrated with a series of oblique questions which best served to keep his “magic” alive, but hardly took down the PM and his government for the current crisis in the country.

Another user was not convinced with age-old homilies on development and well, said that it is safe to “run after a desert mirage” than believe in the prime ministers’ claims.

A Twitter user going by a fake moniker of Raghuram Rajan underscored the media’s futile exercise for yet again choosing to remain indifferent to the scripted line of questioning.

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