Contradictory to Mani Shanker Aiyer’s jibe of tea vendor or ‘Chai Wala’ on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, another senior Congress leader and All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary, Ahmed Patel made a statement that Modi was not a tea-seller during a small gathering outside, Gujarat Congress’s headquarters in Ahmedabad.
Giving fuel to the war of words on Modi’s past as tea vendor, Patel said that he was informed by some tea-vendors told him that, the Gujarat Chief Minister was never a ‘chai wala’ but was a canteen contractor.
“Just to take political benefit, he claims he used to serve tea like a ‘chai wala,” said the Rajya Sabha member. Reacting to Modi’s unique campaign ‘Chai Pe Charcha’, Patel termed it as ‘Natak’ (Drama) to attract voters.
The meeting was part of the Congress’s initiative ‘Swaraj Kuch’ in which social activist lalji Desai belongs to shepherd community joined the Congress along with hundreds of his supporters. Desai is known critic of Modi and runs an agitation to protect lands of farmers and opposing the Gujarat Chief Minister’s pet projects — Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) as well as Becharaji SIR where Maruti Suzuki is planning to set-up its manufacturing facility.
Patel also criticised Modi for using ‘Statue of Unity’ project - World’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel as ladder to become prime minister and claimed that Modi’s ‘Gujarat Development’ model is mere illusion as in reality Gujarat is lagging behind in all parameters in social sectors.
Sonia Gandhi’s close aide also raised questions on the source of money for organising huge rallies of Modi across the country. He summed up the meeting with his style of telling ‘Shayari’ in ‘Urdu’ — Yeh Mehfil -e - Aam Nahi, Mehfil-e - Khas and termed the gathering as meeting of special people.