game: JaitleyNew Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) Finance Minister Arun Jaitleytermed Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's 'Neech' remarkagainst Prime Minister Narendra Modi today as a "deliberatecasteist statement", said his suspension from the party was"strategic" and urged people to see through "this game".
"Mani Shankar Aiyer's 'Neech' attack on Prime Minister--a deliberate casteist statement, a convenient apology, astrategic suspension. People should see through this game,"Jaitley tweeted.
Jaitley lashed out at Aiyar, saying his remark displaysthe mindset that "only one elite family" can rule thiscountry.
Aiyar earlier today called Modi a "neech aadmi" (vileman) who does "dirty politics" after the prime ministertargeted the Congress saying that parties seeking votes in B RAmbedkar's name tried to erase his contribution to nationbuilding the party.
Reacting to Aiyar's remark, Jaitley said the Congressparty has challenged the weaker and backward sections of Indiaby calling the prime minister 'neech'.
"The strength of India's democracy will be displayed whena person of humble background politically defeats the dynastyand its representatives," the finance minister said in atweet.
In another tweet, Jaitley said, "Mani Shankar Aiyer's'Neech' remark against the prime minister displays a mindsetthat only one elite family can be a ruler and the rest areonly the 'Neech'."Earlier, Aiyar claimed that it was the country's firstprime minister Jawaharlal Nehru who recognised Ambedkar'spotential.
"What is the need for doing dirty politics on such anoccasion?" he asked after the prime minister attacked theCongress while inaugurating the Ambedkar International Centrethat was conceived 23 years ago.
The Congress tonight suspended Aiyar from the primarymembership of the party and issued him a show-cause notice forhis remark. PTI NKD SKC PRSSMN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.