New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, who infamously dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “chaiwala” ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, on Thursday called Mr Modi an uncultured man who practices dirty politics for which Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi asked him to tender an apology.
Talking to reporters here, Mr Aiyar said, “Mujhko lagta hai ki ye aadmi bahut neech kisam ka aadmi hai, isme koi sabhyata nahi hai, or aise mauke par is kisam ki gandi rajniti karne ki kya avashyakta hai? (This man is a low-life person, he isn't cultured... at this moment why does he need to practice such dirty politics?
The comments came after Modi launched a subtle attack on former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at a rally in Gujarat. Without naming Nehru, he said, “Baba Saheb Ambedkar's contribution to nation building is very important. There had been attempts to undermine his role, but such attempts were unsuccessful.”Responding to Mr Aiyar’s comment, the Prime Minister in an election rally in Surat said, "Maney bhaley neech kaho (They might have called me a 'neech' (below standard person)'; but with folded hands I will request all of you not to indulge in rhetoric against such comments. Most befitting response to insult to a son of Gujarat will be vote in favour of BJP on December 9 and December 14." The Prime Minister said, "A man of high calibre and educational background has called me a man of humble background. He has questioned my caste. This only reflects their Mughal or Sultani - feudal - mindset". (UNI)
