After "chaiwala," motormouth Mani Shankar now calls PM Modi "neech"
Congress's Mani Shankar Aiyar does it again. Launching a personal attack, he called PM Modi a "neech aadmi" (low-life person) even as the crucial Gujarat polls are right around the corner. A few days back, Aiyar had a foot in mouth moment when he compared Congress to the Mughals and Congress VP Rahul Gandhi to Aurangzeb. What is the entire incident? Read on!
This is what Aiyar said
Why did Mani Shankar Aiyar make this remark?
At a Gujarat rally, Modi launched an indirect attack on former PM Jawaharlal Nehru. Modi said attempts were made to undermine Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's legacy, but they were unsuccessful. Aiyar responded that Nehru played an important role in furthering Ambedkar's principles. He added "He (Modi) is a low-life person, he isn't cultured... at this moment why does he need to practice such dirty politics?"
What was PM Modi's retort?
Within an hour of Aiyar's remark, Modi retorted that "Congress leaders are speaking in a language that is unacceptable in democracy." He lamented that though Aiyar studied in the best institutions and served as a diplomat, he is using insulting words like "neech." He said that "This is nothing but a Mughlai mindset." He claimed he hasn't done anything shameful to be called "neech."
As the incident ballooned, Rahul swiftly condemned Aiyar's statements
After Modi used these latest comments as ammunition saying his work is "oonch" and that "Gujarat will respond," Congress wasted no time in distancing itself from Aiyar's remarks. Rahul said "I do not appreciate the tone and language used by Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar to address the PM. Both the Congress and I expect him to apologize for what he said."
Interestingly, this remark imitates earlier circumstances
In 2014, before the crucial LS elections, Aiyar famously dismissed Modi as a "chaiwala," referring to Modi's revelation that as a child he sold tea to supplement his family's income. Aiyar's remark had changed the entire narrative of the election. BJP attacked Congress for being condescending of people from humble backgrounds. So will history repeat itself for the upcoming Gujarat elections?
