Chennai: First there were Modi mugs for morning coffee from, then, 'Trust Namo' tee shirts and hoodies. Now, there's a Modi-themed cafe with the Prime Minister's achievements painted across the walls.
The cafe, earlier called Rodi Restro, in Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi district, has been functioning since 2017 but the interiors were recently Modi-fied to fit the NaMo theme. "My wife Sowmya Sarathy spearheaded this initiative. She was inspired by Modi's woman-centric schemes like Ujwala where their needs were being addressed for the first time in the country," Dhinesh Rodi, owner and a BJP youth-wing functionary said.
"It is generally thought that Modi is not a popular leader in Tamil Nadu. This is our little initiative to show our support for the 2019 parliamentary elections and to hold hands with other Modi supporters in the state," said Dhinesh Rodi.
Pictures of the cafe, which will be inaugurated this week by Poonam Mahajan, BJP MP and youth wing national president has garnered a lot of attention online, especially on Twitter. "Nation with NaMo, an organisation which has been tracking Modi's brand's engagement and awareness in the country. They have reached out to us and asked us to provide them with feedback from our customers when they open," Dhinesh said. NaMo app, which sells Brand Modi merchandise, has also contacted Rodi for selling some of them in his café.
On asked to describe the cafe's interiors, Dhinesh said "Awas Yojana, Mudra, Make in India, Ujjwala, Mann Ki Baat, Uri Attack and Surgical Strike are some of the schemes, programmes and achievements that feature prominently in the café. Highlighting these not only brings attention to the good work that Modi has done for the country but will also bring awareness to the people on certain special schemes which they could benefit from,"
When asked if dishes in the cafe will follow the theme too, Dhinesh said, "One of our extra large milkshakes is being named Demonetization. This theme will run through our food as well."
