Aiyar calls PM ‘Neech Aadmi’; forced to apologise
ONI Bureau: In 2014, he mocked Narendra Modi and asked him to sell Tea at the AICC Headquarters. As expected, BJP made it a big poll issue and Congress had to suffer the worst. Just when Congress looked set for its revival from Gujarat Polls, Mani Shankar Aiyar continued to fire salvos one after another to damage the party further.
Just a few days ago, he repeated his ‘Chaiwala’ jibe at PM Modi, which did not go well with the general public. If that was not enough, he slammed the PM as ‘Neech Aadmi’ today while talking to ANI.
Aiyar was frustrated with PM Modi’s attacks on Rahul Gandhi and his ancestors. But, was the ‘Neech Aadmi’ word the only option for him. Did not he have any other decent language to criticise Modi. A worried Rahul Gandhi had to rebuke him and asked Aiyar to apologise. But, the damage is already done.
BJP and PM routinely use filthy language to attack the Congress party. The Congress has a different culture and heritage. I do not appreciate the tone and language used by Mr Mani Shankar Aiyer to address the PM. Both the Congress and I expect him to apologise for what he said.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 7, 2017
PM Modi and his supporters are leaving no stones unturned to make it a big poll issue and link it to ‘Gujarat Asmita’. One BJP leader confirmed that they are going to ask people whether Gujratis are ‘Neech Aadmi’.
I have nothing to say on a ‘wise’ Congress leader calling me ’Neech'. This is the Congress mindset. They have their language and we have our work. People will answer them through the ballot box. https://t.co/2McoZnaoar pic.twitter.com/icGqAphUzy
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 7, 2017
Even Congress leader Ashok Gehlot seeks to clarify that Rahul Gandhi has asked all Congess leaders not to speak anything against the dignity of the post of PM. Gehlot sought apology from Aiyar.
Aiyar later clarified that he never meant ‘low born’ when he said ‘Neech Aadmi’. “I was not aware about the nuances and different interpretations of the word ‘neech’. I am sorry if it meant ‘low born’,” he added.