After Tharoor, Omar Abdullah too praises Narendra Modi

Bangalore, may 21:

is slowly winning over friends in an otherwise hostile environment of Indian politics. After Congress leader

praised the PM designate on Twitter after his touching speech in the Central Hall of the Parliament on Tuesday, the National Conference leader and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir

praised Modi for inviting the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) leaders, especially the prime minister of Pakistan, for his swearing-in ceremony on May 26.

Abdullah hoped that the move would lead to sustained talks with Islamabad.

It is a welcome development that leaders from the opponent ranks have begun to appreciate whatever little Modi has done since getting the massive mandate on May 16. The kind words from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) towards Modi for his soft and inclusive approach mark a positive trend and the 16th Lok Sabha needs to see more such developments in the future.

Even in the space outside politics, the acceptability of Narendra Modi is gradually increasing. While economists like Bhagwati Prasad and Arvind Panagariya, veteran journalist like MJ Akbar and eminent sociologist Andre Beteille had backed him before the elections were held, eminent personalities like Gopal Krishna Gandhi and APJ Abdul Kalam, who had held prestigious positions like those of the Governor and President, also congratulated him.

Kalam also urged Modi to improve the water situation across the nation [read here], create earning capacity for the modest sections and also give employment opportunity to the youth.

In the world of cinema, Salman Khan had endorsed Modi at a kite-flying ceremony in Ahmedabad earlier this year, albeit diplomatically, while Shah Rukh Khan cleared the air about a false tweet claiming that he was ready to leave India if Modi became the prime minister.

Oneindia News