The Prime Minister of India – Narendra Modi, while attending his first press conference ever since he came to power 5 years ago, didn’t take a single question from the media.
Addressing himself as the ‘disciplined soldier’ of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), he passed on the question to Party President – Amit Shah, when a journalist asked him a question. The Press Conference was held at the BJP headquarters in Delhi.
Modi said, “No, no, not me. We don’t speak in front of the president.”
Responding to question asked to Prime Minister, Amit Shah took the mike and answered the question. Post this, he said, “I have answered your question. It is not necessary for the PM to answer every question.” The question was based on Telangana Chief Minister – K. Chandrashekar Rao’s meetings to evolve a federal front.
पूर्ण बहुमत वाली सरकार पांच साल पूरे करके दोबारा जीतकर आए, ये देश में बहुत लंबे अरसे के बाद हो रहा है। ये अपने आप में बहुत बड़ी बात है: पीएम मोदी #DeshKaGauravModi pic.twitter.com/2DFbUwpvSE
— BJP (@BJP4India) May 17, 2019
In his opening speech, he said that his Government has completed 5 successful years and would once again come to power. He told media, “It has not happened often in our country that a government with full majority returns once again with a majority.”
When asked about party’s Bhopal candidate – Pragya Thakur’s remarks of calling Nathuram Godse a ‘desh bhakt’, Shah said that a showcause notice had been served to Thakur. Congress also didn’t let the Thakur’s remark go off easily. They replied by saying that BJP was not “God-ke Lovers” but “God-se Lovers”.
Speaking about his 2014 victory, PM also mentioned, “On May 16 the results came out. And on May 17 there was a big casualty. Those who were power-hungry and those into betting suffered a biggest loss.”
For the records, the President of Indian National Congress (INC) – Rahul Gandhi and other members of the opposition have been repeatedly accusing Modi of not addressing a single Press Conference during his tenure. However, PM Modi gave a series of interviews to various News Channels on the side-lines of his rallies or at his home. The opposition had even said that questions and PM’s responses in those TV Interviews were scripted.
Congratulations Modi Ji. Excellent Press Conference! Showing up is half the battle. Next time Mr Shah may even allow you to answer a couple of questions. Well done! 👍
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 17, 2019
Speaking about PM’s Press Conference, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Congratulations Modi Ji. Excellent Press Conference! Showing up is half the battle. Next time Mr Shah may even allow you to answer a couple of questions. Well done!”
