Narendra Modi taunts P Chidambaram, calls him ‘recounting minister’ 

Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at a public meeting in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur, described a senior Congress leader as “arrogant” and taunted him as a “recounting minister” of the United Progressive Alliance’s reign. Modi was apparently referring to Chidambaram’s victory from Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency amid calls for recounting of votes, during the 2009 general election.

Chidambaram, now a Rajya Sabha MP, won the seat by a slim margin of 3,354 votes after a see-saw battle.

While referring to his government’s step of tax exemption for people with up to income of Rs 5 lakh, Modi, on Sunday, said he wanted to recall the state of affairs during UPA reign as a reflection of genuine concern for the middle class.

The prime minister said, “There was a very wise minister from Tamil Nadu. You know whom I am talking about. The man who thinks all the knowledge in the world resides only in his brain. In his typical arrogance, he says why the middle class is so worried about price rise when they buy such expensive ice cream and mineral water. ‘Mr Recounting Minister’, the middle class does not need the taunt by you and Congress. They have rejected you and will continue to do so.”

Modi said some people are very unhappy with the good work of the NDA government. He said, “Those who thought power was their divine right, those who thought only they are bound to rule are disturbed. Because here is a government that is working. Their unhappiness has turned into desperation and abuse.”

Modi had made the same “recounting minister” remark against Chidambaram during the 2014 Lok Sabha campaign.

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