India: Why did Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet this rickshaw-puller in Varanasi?
The rickshaw-puller had invited the Prime Minister for his daughter's wedding
Dubai: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi trended on social media after he met a rickshaw-puller in Varanasi, who had invited him for his daughter’s wedding.
Tweeps respond…
Twitter user @pushp63299400 posted: “This is how political identities must be…. down to earth.”
Tweep @Varaah posted: “Just imagine the happiness the rickshaw puller would have had! I too wish to meet him, Modi Ji …”
And @nycmomo13 posted: “My PM. Humble and down to earth. A role model for all Indians.”
However, some online users accused the Prime Minister of indulging in another “publicity stunt” and criticised him for not attending the ongoing Shaheen Bagh protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
Tweep @ShivamJ24 posted: “He is obsessed with himself and camera, he knows a large part of population actually loves to see the camera drama and propaganda…”
And tweep @makedelhi posted: “Rather nice photo session.”
Why did Modi meet the rickshaw-puller?
Modi was in Varanasi on February 16, to visit his Lok Sabha constituency, where he met rickshaw puller, Mangal Kewat, during his one-day visit.
According to Asian News International agency, Kewat had sent the Prime Minister an invitation to his daughter’s wedding, which was taking place on February 12.
According the report by ANI, Modi did not attend the ceremony, but he sent a congratulatory letter to Kewat and offered him his blessings.
Many online reports quote Kewat’s response to an ANI interview wherein he said: "We had sent the first invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I personally handed it over at the PMO in Delhi. On February 8, we received the congratulatory letter from PM Modi, which has excited us."
According to reports online, Modi asked Kewat about his family when he met him, and commended him on his contribution to the Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan (Clean India campaign), which was launched by Modi five years ago.
The initiative aims to clean up streets and roads in India, and Kewat contributes to the cause by cleaning the banks of the river Ganges in his village.