Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced embarrassing moments during his interaction with BJP workers from Tamil Nadu when a karyakarta sought to know why his administration was only busy collecting taxes from the middle class but not interested in taking care of them.

An apparently stumped Modi chose not to answer the question raised by Nirmal Kumar Jain from Villupuram district and continued with his interaction by switching to Puducherry. The incident took place on Wednesday evening during Modi’s interaction with “booth workers” from northern districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

This is a serious embarrassment for Modi and the BJP since participants of the interaction were chosen by the saffron party. Sensing trouble from his colleagues, Jain left the venue of the event before it ended. Modi uses his Namo App to interact with booth workers from across the country in the run-up to the 2019 general elections.

Modi, who was all smiles when Jain rose from his seat to pose a question to him via the popular Namo App, was stumped when the BJP worker went on to criticise his government and sought to know why the middle class was not being given due importance.

Posing his question in Hindi, Jain said the "middle sections of the people" are at loss to understand why did not get any incentive from his government in the form of relaxations in Income Tax slabs and in loan processing procedure. He also asked Modi to “take care of the middle class like the way you take care while collecting tax from them.”

As pin dropped silence prevailed in the hall, Modi put up a brave face and dismissed Jain’s question. “Thank you, Nirmalji. You are a trader, so it’s normal that you will talk only business. I assure you that the common man will be taken care of.”

Modi immediately switched to addressing booth workers from neighbouring Puducherry by welcoming them.