Mani Shankar Aiyar has been suspended for calling PM Modi as neech aadmi

Bengaluru: Congress suspended Mani Shankar Aiyar on Thursday after the former Union minister called the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “neech aadmi”.

“He (Modi) is ‘neech kism ka aadmi’ (a vile man) who has no ‘sabhyata’ (civility),” he said, attacking Modi after the latter accused the Congress of seeking votes in B R Ambedkar’s name but trying to erase his contribution to building India.

The Congress party strongly disapproved of Aiyar’s comments, Rahul Gandhi has asked the leader to tender an apology on the same.

“BJP and PM routinely use filthy language to attack Congress party. 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,” Gandhi said.

Addressing an election rally in Surat, Modi hit back at Aiyar and said dejected Congress functionaries had lost their mental balance and crossed all limits of decency. “Mani Shankar Aiyar has called me neech and from nichli jaati (lower caste). Is this not an insult to Gujarat? Is it not an insult to India’s great values? But people of Gujarat will take revenge on December 18 and teach you the precise meaning of neech,” Modi said.