This Article is From May 21, 2015

Congress Attacks PM Narendra Modi for His Love of the Selfie

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's selfie with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang

New Delhi: The Congress, in its blitz of anti-BJP government press conferences today, attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his love of the selfie.

In Chennai, Milind Deora said, "Nothing wrong in taking selfies with heads of states, but the Prime Minister should also take selfies with farmers in distress," adding, "A politician with accessibility and zero delivery is meaningless. It's important the PM also takes selfies with the common man."

In a preview of his intent, Mr Deora had tweeted earlier in the day, "Dear @PMOIndia, now that you're back, how about extending those selfie courtesies to distressed farmers too?"

In Hyderabad, another former minister of the Congress, Jairam Ramesh, said, "Modi promised selfless government, one year later we see a selfie prime minister.''

PM Modi, who returned last evening from a tour of three Asian nations, has been consistently attacked by the Congress for what the opposition party calls too many foreign tours. In China, he posted a selfie with Premier Li Keqiang that that made even Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook tip his hat. Forbes said the selfie "is being billed the selfie of the world's two mightiest".

The Congress' offensive is an attempt to take some sheen off the BJP's celebration of its first year at the Centre. But the party is miles behind on the use of social media, where PM Modi has repeatedly used the selfie to great impact.  

Rahul Gandhi, 44, took his first tentative steps on Twitter earlier this month, with his office launching a handle that has seen not one tweet from the Congress leader himself.

The Prime Minister, in contrast, tweets regularly. One year ago, a tweet by him became the most retweeted of 2014.
 
There have been other viral selfies - the one from a voting booth that got him into trouble with the Election Commission, selfies with heads of state from Australia's Tony Abott to Li Keqiang, and selfies with Bollywood stars like Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor.

The Congress might not approve, but legendary photographer Raghu Rai does. "It just shows his popularity..." says Mr Rai, adding, "And such a contrast to our previous Prime Minister.''
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