'neech'(Eds: Clubs related stories)New Delhi/Surat, Dec 7 (PTI) Congress leader Mani ShankarAiyar today set off a political firestorm when he called PrimeMinister Narendra Modi a "neech kism ka aadmi" (a vile man), aremark the latter claimed was a casteist slur against him.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi promptly admonished Aiyar,who has often courted controversy with his off-the-cuffcomments, prompting the senior leader to apologise.
Modi, who was on campaign trail in the Patidar belt ofSurat in poll-bound Gujarat, quickly seized on the commentsthat may prove potentially damaging for the Congress coming asit did on the last day of electioneering for the first phaseof poll in the state on December 9, insisting he was targetedover his caste.
Modi said Aiyar's remark was an "insult" to Gujarat as heonce again sought to stir a sense of Gujarati pride among thevoters.
"He (Modi) is 'neech kism ka aadmi' (a vile man) who hasno 'sabhyata' (civility)," Aiyar said, attacking Modi afterthe latter accused the Congress of seeking votes in B RAmbedkar's but trying to erase his contribution to nationbuilding.
Modi quickly lapped up Aiyar's comment to launch ascalding attack on the Congress leader and his party.
"Shriman (Mr) Mani Shankar Aiyar today said that Modiis of 'neech' (lower) caste and is 'neech' (vile). Is this notan insult to Gujarat?"You called us donkey, you called us 'gandi nali kakeeda' (worm of a dirty drain), you called us 'maut kasaudagar' (merchant of death), you said I am of 'neech jaati'(lower caste man) and 'neech'. But we will live according toour 'sanskars' (values)," Modi said, launching an onslaughtagainst Congress leaders who called him names in the past.
"This is a Mughal mentality where if such a person (whocomes from a humble background) wears good clothes in avillage, they have a problem," he said.
Modi said he was following in the footsteps of MahatmaGandhi who devoted his entire his life to the cause of poorand the "neech" (people of the lower strata of society". "I amsitting with the 'neech' and will continue doing so even ifyou find me vile, my caste low," he said.
Rahul Gandhi, who is all set to take over the mantle ofthe Congress president from his mother Sonia Gandhi midwaythrough the Gujarat polls, ticked off Aiyar.
"BJP and PM routinely use filthy language to attack theCongress party. The Congress has a different culture andheritage. I do not appreciate the tone and language used by MrMani Shankar Aiyer to address the PM. Both the Congress and Iexpect him to apologise for what he said," Gandhi said onTwitter.
Chastised, Aiyar was soon on national televisionproffering clarification, insisting it was because of his poorunderstanding of Hindi language that he used the word, andtendering apology.
"I am told that 'neech' has many meanings, manyconnotations in Hindi, and if Mr Modi chooses to distort it toclaim that it means low born, then all I can do is toapologise for having used a word that could be interpreted aslow born. But that was not my intention at all and certainlynot a part of my culture.
"Therefore, for the misinterpretation that can be givento the word, I extend my apologies, particularly sinceit is going to harm the Congress party's interests inGujarat," he said.
Aiyar said he was asked about Modi's criticism of theCongress at an event and "the bulk of my answer dealt withModi's very, very nasty remarks about the Congress party andDr Ambedkar and I used the word 'neech'."He said his "intention was not to talk of his (Modi's)family".
When repeatedly asked if he was tendering apology forcalling Modi 'neech', Aiyar said,"Do I apologise about theword 'low'? No. Do I apologise about the word that istranslated which says 'low born'? Absolutely yes."The Congress leader said he does not think Modi was lowborn "but the language...I would say is very low".
Modi, at his rally in Surat, which has a sizeablepopulation of Patidars, a section of whom are on a warpathwith the government over reservation for the community, saidpeople will give a befitting reply to the Congress through theballot box.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also hit out at Aiyar,saying his 'neech' remark against the prime minister "displaysa mindset that only one elite family can be a ruler and therest are only the ‘neech’.""The Congress party has challenged the weaker andbackward sections of India by calling the Prime Minister as’neech’. The strength of India’s democracy will be displayedwhen a person of humble background politically defeats thedynasty and its representatives," he said.
BJP Chief Amit Shah said he was neither shocked norsurprised by Aiyar calling the prime minister ‘neech.’"Yamraj, Maut Ka Saudagar, Ravan, Gandi Nali Ka Keeda,Monkey, Rabies Victim, Virus, Bhasmasur, Gangu Teli and Goon.
These are some words or phrases Congress has used for PM@narendramodi in the past. Not much has changed. We wish themwell. We will continue to serve 125 crore Indians," hetweeted.
Aiyar's 'neech' jibe at Modi was the latest in a seriesof ill-timed personal attacks by him on top BJP leaders.
His 'chaiwala' barb against Modi ahead of the 2014 LokSabha polls gave the then BJP's prime ministerial candidate astick to beat the Congress how with, as election resultsshowed.
In 1998, he had called the then prime minister AtalBihari Vajpayee, a widely respected leader, 'nalayak'(incompetent), a Hindi word considered a pejorative. Aiyarapologised after the backlash. PTI SKC/PD KR SKSK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.