Congress
suspends Mani Shankar Aiyar
‘Neech’ jibe against PM Modi takes his head
New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday, 7th December 2017, suspended its senior leader Mani Shankar Aiyar from the primary membership of the party and issued him a show cause notice, after he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a ‘neech aadmi’.The disciplinary action against the Gandhi family loyalist came barely two days before the first phase of Assembly poll in Gujarat which will be held on 9th December 2017.
Congress communications incharge Randeep Surjewala said the action showed the party’s “Gandhian leadership” and respect for the political rival. He asked whether Mr. Modi would dare to act similarly.
“The Congress party has served a show cause notice
to Mani Shankar Aiyar and suspended him from the primary membership of the
party,” Mr. Surjewala said.
Mr. Aiyar on the day earlier set off a political
firestorm when he called Mr. Modi a “neech kism ka aadmi” (a vile man), a
remark the latter claimed was a casteist slur against him.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was quick to take
offence and, in a tweet, pointed out that the language used by Aiyar was
contrary to the 'culture and heritage' of the party. He further said that the
party expects Aiyar to apologise for what he said.
The statement, coming just two days ahead of the first of the two-phase Gujarat elections, has pushed the grand old party on to the back foot. It also played into the Prime Minister's hands perfectly, who used the remark at his rally in Surat to appeal to Gujarati pride and talk about his humble background.
“Congress called us "neech” but we are living according to our traditions. People of Gujarat will not tolerate this kind of language. People will give befitting reply on 9 and 14,” he said.
Aiyar, after facing flak from his own partymen, did issue an apology, but it was a conditional one. He claimed that what he meant was lost in translation as he was not aware about the nuances and different interpretations of the word 'neech'.
The statement, coming just two days ahead of the first of the two-phase Gujarat elections, has pushed the grand old party on to the back foot. It also played into the Prime Minister's hands perfectly, who used the remark at his rally in Surat to appeal to Gujarati pride and talk about his humble background.
“Congress called us "neech” but we are living according to our traditions. People of Gujarat will not tolerate this kind of language. People will give befitting reply on 9 and 14,” he said.
Aiyar, after facing flak from his own partymen, did issue an apology, but it was a conditional one. He claimed that what he meant was lost in translation as he was not aware about the nuances and different interpretations of the word 'neech'.
"I never meant low born. In English there is a clear
distinction between low and low born. The meaning that Modi is drawing out of
this is not my concern," said Aiyar. He further added: "If it means
low born, I seek mazrat (I apologise)."
This is not the first time that Aiyar has cost the Congress before an election and has a long list of gaffes to his name. He had infamously dismissed Modi as a “chaiwalla” ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP and Modi used that remark to full advantage, selling it to the voters as an insult to Modi’s “humble roots”.
Just two days ago, he had kicked up yet another political row by comparing the imminent elevation of Rahul Gandhi to succession under the Mughals, giving rise to the ‘Aurangzeb raj’ rhetoric from the BJP.
"When Shah Jahan came in the place of Jahangir, was there an election? When Aurangzeb came in place of Shah Jahan, was there an election? No. It was known to everyone earlier that the throne of the emperor will automatically go to the king's heir. If they fight amongst themselves, it is a different matter,” he had said.
This is not the first time that Aiyar has cost the Congress before an election and has a long list of gaffes to his name. He had infamously dismissed Modi as a “chaiwalla” ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP and Modi used that remark to full advantage, selling it to the voters as an insult to Modi’s “humble roots”.
Just two days ago, he had kicked up yet another political row by comparing the imminent elevation of Rahul Gandhi to succession under the Mughals, giving rise to the ‘Aurangzeb raj’ rhetoric from the BJP.
"When Shah Jahan came in the place of Jahangir, was there an election? When Aurangzeb came in place of Shah Jahan, was there an election? No. It was known to everyone earlier that the throne of the emperor will automatically go to the king's heir. If they fight amongst themselves, it is a different matter,” he had said.
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