Auckland [New Zealand], July 11 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a “quintessential” Indian politician who prefers direct engagement with the electorate.
Speaking at a special media briefing during Prime Minister Modi’s official visit to New Zealand, MEA Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon was asked why the prime minister did not hold a press conference with New Zealand journalists.
Responding to the question, Tandon said it gave him a “deja vu” of a similar question raised during Modi’s visit to Norway.
“So, you know, your question has that quality of deja vu because, you see, it’s not appropriate for me as a civil servant to comment on Mr. Modi’s political method. He’s a very successful politician. But let me give you some context. Prime Minister Modi is a quintessential Indian politician. By and large, Indian politicians favor direct contact with their electorate,” Tandon said.
Emphasizing that Indian voters value direct interaction, Tandon said Modi has perfected that approach.
“You must remember that the Indian electorate is predominantly rural. They want direct contact. They don’t like being spoken down to, and they don’t like being spoken to through intermediaries. Mr. Modi has perfected the art of direct contact with his electorate, and he seems to be doing a rather good job of it since he has now been elected to a third term and is one of the longest-serving prime ministers in our country,” he said.
Earlier, a commentator with a Norwegian newspaper said in a post on X that Prime Minister Modi did not take her question. She also referred to the rankings of India and Norway in the World Press Freedom Index.
On May 19, India reiterated its commitment to protecting human rights and reaffirmed its faith in democracy and the Constitution following a controversial disruption by the Norwegian newspaper commentator during Prime Minister Modi’s joint press statement with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
At the time, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George said that although India is home to nearly one-sixth of the world’s population, it does not contribute one-sixth of the world’s problems. (ANI)
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