Cong write to President on Modi's language

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh has asked President Ram Nath Kovind to “caution” Prime Minister Narendra Modi against using “unwarranted, threatening and intimidating language” targeting the Congress leadership while on the campaign trail of the Karnataka Assembly elections.

“It is unthinkable that in our democratic polity, the prime minister as head of the government would utter words which are threatening, intimidating in content and a public warning to the leaders and members of the main opposition party, i.e. Indian National Congress,” the leaders said in a letter to Kovind.

Singh and other Congress leaders took objection to Modi’s election speech in Hubbali on May 6. “Congress leaders, listen carefully, if you cross the limits, remember this is Modi and you will have to repent,” the prime minister had said addressing an election rally.

“The President may caution the prime minister from using such unwarranted, threatening and intimidating language against leaders of the Congress party or any other party or person as it does not behove the position of the prime minister,” said the letter signed by Manmohan Singh and other Congress leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Karan Singh, Mallikarjun Kharge, Motilal Vora, Ashok Gehlot, Ahmed Patel, P Chidambaram among others.

Congress leaders told the President that the menacing language used by Modi was tantamount to using his privileges as the prime minister to settle personal and political scores.

They said all the prime ministers of India in the past have maintained immense dignity and decorum in discharging of public or private functions and actions.

“The threat held out by the prime minister to the INC’s leadership deserves to be condemned. This cannot be the language of a prime minister of a constitutionally governed democratic country of 1.3 billion people,” said the letter dated May 13.

“Such discourse whether in public or private is unacceptable conduct. The words used are menacing and intimidating with intent to insult and provoke breach of the peace,” Congress leaders said.