Kolkata, April 19 (IANS) Shopkeeper Vikram Shaw, who on Sunday served Prime Minister Narendra Modi with popular Bengali street snack ‘jhalmuri’, said that he was left amazed at the Prime Minister’s sudden visit and described the moment as a “huge thing” for him.

Taking a break amid his Assembly election rallies in West Bengal, PM Modi made an unexpected stop in Jhargram for a quick bite of the savoury snack, jhalmuri.

Shaw told IANS that he could never imagine the Prime Minister visiting his shop.

“It is a huge thing for me that the Prime Minister of the country came to my shop to have jhalmuri,” he said.

Revealing details about the PM’s visit, he said: “He (PM Modi) came here and first asked my name and also about my well-being. Then he asked me to prepare jhalmuri.”

“After I made one, he asked how much it cost. I tried to refuse to take money from him, but then took it after he insisted,” Shaw said.

Shaw also expressed his happiness after the Prime Minister appreciated his jhalmuri. “PM Modi then asked the names of my parents and where I hailed from. I told him that my family belongs from Bihar’s Gaya,” he added.

“PM Modi also asked me about my qualification and this business. I told him that due to poverty, I had to drop out of school after Class nine. About my earnings, I told him I could earn Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200, enough that I can run my family.”

Shaw, however, regretted not taking an autograph from the Prime Minister. “I should have taken his sign,” he said while smiling.

A local who was present at the stall when PM Modi made the stopover, recalled the moment as “surprising and delightful”.

“Despite holding such an esteemed office, the country’s Prime Minister visited a small shop in a small town like Jhargram. This is a moment of great joy and pride for the people here,” he said.

Expressing his gratitude to PM Modi for his visit, he added, “It is a precedent for a small city like Jhargram and for the entire West Bengal.”

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was seen interacting with residents, sharing smiles, and even the jhalmuri with children and women who were present at the shop during his visit.

–IANS

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