Prime Minister Narendra Modi behaves like a political campaigner, says Tharoor

New Delhi: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of acting like a political campaigner instead of behaving as the premier of the country.
Tharoor also ridiculed a press meet of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah where he had flashed a magazine, which reportedly featured a Sri Lankan baby on its cover page, in support of Modi's statement regarding health of infants among Scheduled Tribes in Kerala.
"It's bad enough that it's Somalia in Kerala but it's even worse that it's Sri Lankan baby in Somalian Kerala," the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said, adding that when the PM goes to any state, people want to hear good things from him and want to feel acknowledged and admired.
"Instead you have the prime minister coming and behaving like a political campaigner, that doesn't play well," he said.
He was speaking to a news channel on the sidelines of the polling in Kerala.
On a lighter note, Tharoor said men will be unhappy with the new liquor policy in the state but it is popular among women.
"I suspect that the men who drink would be unhappy to vote for a government that's gonna take away their drinks from them. It remains hugely popular with women and with community leaders, including all the faith leaders," he said.
The former union minister expressed hope that United Democratic Front (UDF) will retain power in the state amidst the controversies and scams, saying development has actually got off the ground.
"Public is particularly impressed with the UDF's message which is whatever the other charges in media controversies maybe about, the courts and the investigating agencies will deal with it, but has it affected your life," he asked.
"These were all scandals relating to private scams involving private individuals. As far as the state's action is concerned, as far as the government's responsibilities are concerned, has your life improved in the last five years, have you seen progress on the ground.
"Are there development projects that have actually got off the ground, instead of years of sloganeering and talk by the other parties?" he said, adding that the UDF will retain power in the state.
"I believe that this pattern by which every five years a government is changed by the voters, will be reversed for the first time in four or five decades now," Tharoor said.