of "Mughal mentality"Surat, Dec 7 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi todaylaunched a blistering attack on Mani Shankar Aiyar after theCongress leader called him "neech aadmi" (a vile man),claiming it was a casteist slur against him.
Modi said Aiyar's remark testified to the Congress's"Mughal mentality".
The prime minister also said the Congress leadershipcannot digest if someone from a humble background "wears goodclothes", an apparent retort to Rahul Gandhi's "suit-boot kisarkar" jibe.
"One leader in Congress comes from a very learned family.
He himself was an officer of the Indian Foreign Service andalso a minister in the Congress government.
"Shriman (Mr) Mani Shankar Aiyar today said that Modiis of 'neech jaati' (low caste) and is 'neech' (vile). Is thisnot an insult to Gujarat? This is an insult to the greatlegacy of India. This is born of Mughal mentality," he told anelection rally here in poll-bound Gujarat.
Earlier in the day, Aiyar said, "He (Modi) is 'neech kismka aadmi' (a vile man) who has no 'sabhyata' (civility)."Aiyar's controversial comment came after Modi accused theCongress of seeking votes in B R Ambedkar's name but trying toerase his contribution to nation building.
"You called us donkey, you called us 'gandi nali kakida' (worm of a dirty drain), you called us 'maut kasaudagar' (merchant of death), you said I am of 'neech jaati'and 'neech'. But we will live according to our 'sanskars'(values)," Modi said.
Modi said people of Gujarat had seen his 14 years aschief minister and then prime minister.
"Have I done anything which made you look down in shame?Have I done any 'neech' work?" Modi asked the crowd whichresponded with the chant of "Modi! Modi!".
The prime minister said he may belong to a low caste buthis values were such that he always did (uchha) good work.
He said he followed in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhiand worked for the uplift of the poor. "I sit with those whoare most backward, I work for their uplift, I follow theprinciples of Mahatma Gandhi. You may call me 'neech' forthat, but I will continue on this path," Modi said.
The prime minister requested his followers and BJPworkers not to respond to Aiyar's remarks "even on Twitter".
"I request all BJP workers and followers who believein values in public life with folded hands... do not say evena word against those who have used such language against me,against the prime minister of this country, against son ofGujarat, even on Twitter," he said.
"But if you have any anger over the use of such wordsagainst me, press the button alongside the lotus symbol on 9thand 14th (Gujarat polling dates)," Modi told the gathering.
He said Gujarat will teach a lesson to the Congress onDecember 18, the day votes would be counted.
When results come out, you will know the gravity of theword you used, Modi said.
"The Congress party has lost its mental balance as itknows it is going to lose this election. Could anybody imaginethat they will lose Assam? They have lost Uttar Pradesh,Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and also Bihar. The entire countryhas discarded them," Modi said.
He said, the Congress had forgotten public decorum aftera string of disappointing losses in these states.
"Gujarat has endured many insults. They called me'maut ka saudagar'. They tried to put me behind bars, theytried to jail half of my cabinet," Modi said, adding despitebeing the prime minister for three-and-a-half years he nevertook a single step with a feeling of vengeance.
"That is not my way. We are ones who uphold decorum inpublic life," Modi said. PTI PD KRKSK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.