Remember Nirmal Kumar Jain, a BJP supporter, who had left Prime Minister Narendra Modi stumped with his visibly uncomfortable question on the government’s anti-middle class economic policies? The video of Jain embarrassing Modi in a carefully orchestrated Q&A session had gone viral after Janta Ka Reporter first reported the development.
This prompted social media platforms to be deluged with memes and jokes on ‘Puducherry ko Vanakkam.’ Embarrassed by Jain’s tough question, Modi had moved to the next segment of his interaction with his party’s booth level workers by uttering the words, ‘Puducherry ko Vanakkam.’
Jain has now released a video, clarifying that he was overwhelmed by being given the opportunity to put his question forward to Modi. The short video shows Jain blaming the media for twisting the inference against the BJP and Modi. He says, “Some media outlets are indulging in wrong reporting on my question to Modi. Without caring to report on how the prime minister responded to my question, wrong reporting is being done to defame our prime minister. I am very hurt by this negative publicity. Such publicity will not erase my alliance with the BJP and Modi ji.”
After Jain posted his heavily edited video from his Twitter handle, social media users once again began to target Modi and the BJP for allegedly coercing the BJP businessman from Puducherry to issue a clarification by reading from a script. ‘Puducherry Ko Vanakkam’ once again dominated the conversation in response to Jain’s video.
BJP called in Puducherry Karyakarta for damage control..??
Watch this man reading the script given to him!
Not very well edited @amitmalviya ji, hire a professional.
Chaliye Enko Ek baar fir se Vanakkam! pic.twitter.com/WOIh7hVYiR
— IOI ?? (@IronyOfIndia_) December 29, 2018
A must-watch – Puducherry ko Vanakkam refuses to go away. https://t.co/Cs6OA1goAR
— Seema Chishti (@seemay) December 29, 2018
Good to know Nirmal Jain is safe. https://t.co/Qzz8GA4CIk
— Harsh (@harsh8848) December 29, 2018
Nirmal jain trying to be normal…..well tried nirmal…
— Rahim007 (@Indian007Rahim) December 29, 2018
Jain saab itni badi scripted video banane ki bajaye question hi scripted puch lete ???? https://t.co/iwu0EtWDXy
— Rafale Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) December 29, 2018
On 19 December, while addressing Modi, Jain had asked, “Honourable Prime Minister, I am grateful that I got the opportunity to speak to you. My question is that the work you are doing to change the country is indeed a good step. But the middle section (class) of people think that your government is only busy collecting tax in all manner and in all ways.”
He didn’t stop here and continued, “They did not get the relaxation they were hoping for. For example in IT sector, loan processing procedure and bank transaction fees and penalty, they are feeling shortcomings (of your governance). It is my request that give respite to the middle class, which is the root of your party, same as you take care while collecting tax from them. Thank you.”
PM Modi was clearly not expecting this question from one of his ‘die-hard supporters’. He tried to cause laughter by saying, “Thank you Nirmal ji, you are a trader, so you will naturally talk about trade. We are in favour of looking after common people and we assure you that.” But, seeing no reaction from his audience, a visibly uncomfortable Modi looked to his left in exasperation before announcing, “Chaliye. Puducherry ko vanakkam!”