Former home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for constantly talking of his humble background, saying that it was the beauty of the Indian Constitution that made it possible for him to become prime minister.

Talking of his own background, Shinde said, “I was a peon at Solapur district court. I always maintain that whatever I have achieved in life is due to our Constitution.  Rather than glorifying myself, I feel it is my duty to admit that the party to which I belong entrusted me with high offices. Democracy and humility should go hand in hand. Blowing one’s own trumpet is counter-productive,” Shinde, who also served as Maharashtra chief minister, added.

On November 13, Tharoor said, "If today we have a 'chaiwala' as Prime Minister, it's because Nehru ji made it possible to create the institutional structures through which any Indian can aspire to rise to the highest office in the land."

 Recently, union railway minister Piyush Goyal said that Congress is a party of a family and cited examples for this. He took the names of its former party leaders Sitem Kesari, former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and Neelam Sanjiva Reddy and said that a family has occupied the Congress. While BJP is a party of workers, in which a “Chaiwala” can also become prime minister.

The Congress, however, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of insulting tea-sellers with his remarks and said that as someone who claimed to be a 'chaiwala' once, he "should not feel pained if anyone addresses him so".

The party's reaction came after Modi attacked the Nehru-Gandhi family, saying they were still asking as to how could a "chaiwala" sit on the PM's chair "after their four generations ruled the country".

Congress leader Pawan Khera said no profession is small and asked Modi "why do you consider being called a 'chaiwala' a humiliating comment"