Mumbai News Desk !!! A Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Mumbai-based activist Ajay Bose has sparked a fresh debate over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim of selling tea in his childhood. In this application dated August 21, 2024, Modi had allegedly sought information about a tea shop in Vadnagar, including information such as the name of the shop and the relevant vendor license.
Reply from Ahmedabad Division
On 19 September 2024, the Ahmedabad division of Western Railway responded that they could not provide the information sought as the relevant records were not available. They clarified that records related to catering stalls at stations including Vadnagar were transferred from Rajkot division to Ahmedabad division in 2003. But the specific files mentioned in the transfer document, including the one related to the Vadnagar stall, could not be found.
Bose’s request sought the name of the tea stall, information about Modi’s vendor license and the name and designation of the railway official who had issued such a license. The Western Railway’s response said the information sought pertains to very old records, which are not available in their office.
Importance of the issue
Ahmedabad division’s reply said, “After the formation of Ahmedabad division on April 1, 2003, Rajkot division transferred the files of catering stalls of stations under Ahmedabad division. In this transfer letter, a file related to a stall at Vadnagar was mentioned. But at present, none of the files mentioned in the above letter are in the office records.”
The RTI reply has sparked debate over Modi’s ‘chaiwala’ story of his early life, which is often highlighted in political discourse. Critics argue that the absence of official documents raises questions about the authenticity of these claims.
This case raises serious questions not just on claims about Modi’s childhood but also on political narratives and public trust. Is this story just a political tool, or is it actually a part of Modi’s identity? The debate continues on this issue and all eyes are on its possible implications.
This RTI application and its outcome illustrate how childhood claims by political figures often cause controversy and impact the understanding and trust of the general public.