Modi’s Tea Seller Remark: Manmohan Singh Says Don't Want Competition With Modi, Don’t Want Country To Take A Pity On The Basis Of My Humble Background

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said he does not want to compete with his successor Narendra Modi to take a pity on the basis of a humble background.

In a clear reference to Modi’s ‘chaiwalah’ (tea seller) remark, Singh said, “I don't want the country to take a pity on the basis of my humble background. I do not think I would like to enter in any competition with Prime Minister Modi Ji on this particular matter,” reported ANI.

Last week, addressing an election rally in Rajkot's Jasdan, Modi had said, “The Congress dislikes me because of my poor origins. Can a party stoop so low? Yes, a person belonging to a poor family has become PM. They do not fail to hide their contempt for this fact. Yes, I sold tea but I did not sell the nation.”

“I request the Congress not to mock the poor and my poor origins,” Modi had added.

In a scathing attack on Modi today, Manmohan Singh said Modi failed to understand the "pains" of his note ban and GST decisions were going to unleash on the people of his own home state.

Calling demonetisation an "uninformed, half-baked crusade" and GST a "badly designed and hastily implemented" measure, Singh also lamented the "low-level rhetoric" used by the ruling party.

"I wish the prime minister would find more dignified ways of impressing upon the crowds and seeking their votes...," he said.

(With agency input)

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