Modi should behave as PM, not rock star: Shabbir Ali

Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir advised Narendra Modi to start behaving like the Prime Minister of India and not as a solo entertainer or rock star.

Addressing a press conference in Assembly premises here on Friday, Shabbir Ali strongly condemned the Prime Minister's remarks made in Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto wherein he claimed that he was "cleaning the mess left behind by UPA". He said he had never heard such an outrageous comment by a Prime Minister during a foreign visit during his entire political career of about three decades. He said Modi should represent India and not his party on foreign tours.

"Modi was on tri-nation tour in the capacity of the Prime Minister and not as the RSS Pracharak or BJP campaigner. He must have focused all his energies in extracting benefits from Canada, France and Germany for India besides addressing the issues concerning Indians living in those countries. However, he used a foreign platform to target political opponents. He is acting more like a solo rock singer who runs around in an arena dancing and entertaining the audience. He is acting like a joker even during foreign visits," Shabbir Ail said.

Shabbir Ali informed that one of the senior official of Ministry of External Affairs based in Japan complained to him that earlier the visits of a Prime Minister's were more focussed on Government-to-Government MoUs. However, now the MEA officials are being pressurised to mobililse crowds for the Prime Minister. Stating that Modi, as the Prime Minister, represents about 1.25 crore Indians, he advised him to act more responsibly and avoid embarrassing the entire country through his immature comments.

He also criticized Modi for frequently changing his dresses almost on hourly basis. He said Modi was on official tour and not in a fashion competition. While the Prime Minister had spent lakhs of rupees only on his dresses, there are thousands of people in the country who are not getting proper food even once in a day. Citing the example of Barack Obama, he said that the US President addressed several meetings in the same dress in a day during his visit to India.

Congress ready for GHMC Polls:

When asked for reaction on High Court pulling up Telangana Government for delay in elections for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Shabbir Ali said that the State Government should give a concrete reply and announce schedule. He said it was unfortunate that the government was rapped by the High Court on more than three occasions over GHMC polls. He said that the TRS leaders were yet to learn and understand how the administration is run.

Shabbir Ali claimed that the Congress party was completely ready to face the GHMC elections and would also win them. The previous Congress Government had spent about Rs 1 lakh crore for the development of Hyderabad and the period from 2004-2014 proved to be a Golden Decade for Hyderabad. New international airport, Outer Ring Road, flyovers, Express way, drinking water, city beautification and Metro Rail project were among a few initiatives taken by the then Congress Government. It was the Congress Government which brought Hyderabad in the list of "Must See Destinations" in the world, he said. He expressed confidence that people would vote for the Congress party in the next GHMC polls.