Manmohan Singh's advice for PM Modi: Exercise due restraint, set example with your conduct

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should exercise restraint when he visits states not ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and set an example with his conduct which should be consistent with his obligations as the prime minister.

“PM Modi must be wary of the kind of language he uses since people from all generations listen to him and as the PM, it is his obligation to do so. My advice to the prime minister is that he should exercise due restraint” Manmohan Singh said.

Manmohan Singh was speaking at the launch of a book Fables of Fractured Times by former Union minister Manish Tewari. 

ALSO READ | PM Modi targets Sonia Gandhi over 26/11 Mumbai attack

Singh also recalled that he was asked earlier if he would again use the words against Modi that he had said in 2014, and added that he would “not repeat” them. He had reportedly said that it would be a “disaster” for India if Narendra Modi became the prime minister.

The Congress has been questioning PM Modi over his aggressive campaigning during assembly elections where he has attacked state leadership of rival parties, saying such conduct does not behove a prime minister.

On Sunday, PM Modi lashed out at the Congress and party president Rahul Gandhi for "hurling abuses" at him and dragging his mother and father into the debate.

ALSO READ | PM Modi in Rajasthan: Kota must be upgraded to Smart City

"No prime minister in the past had ever indulged in so many loose comments about senior leaders of their own country," the former PM said.