BJP Questions Congress’ Decision to Revoke Aiyar’s Suspension

Congress in December had suspended Mani Shankar Aiyar after he called PM Modi a “neech aadmi” (a vile person).

Mani Shankar Aiyar was suspended in the second half of 2017 for unacceptable remarks on Prime Minister Modi.

(Photo: PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, 19 August, launched a scathing attack on the Congress president Rahul Gandhi after the grand old party decided to revoke the suspension of veteran leader Mani Shankar Aiyar.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party spokesperson Sambit Patra questioned why Mr Aiyar was taken back by Congress, wondering if the party was incomplete without him.

Rahul Gandhi had clarified that the Congress did not support Aiyar’s foul language and that there was no place for such leaders in the party. But now, the way he has been taken back shows it was only a lip service and the Congress president stands exposed.

Sambit Patra, BJP spokesperson

Citing various controversial statements made by Aiyar against PM Modi, the BJP leader said that Aiyar was the real face of Congress.

Referring to a tweet of Rahul Gandhi where he said that he was the Congress and the Congress was love, Patra wondered whether this love was for Mani Shankar Aiyar, a man of many controversies.

Incident in Question

The Congress in December had suspended the primary membership of Mani Shankar Aiyar after the Gandhi family loyalist set off a firestorm by calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “neech aadmi” (a vile person), during Gujarat election campaigning.

“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,” Rahul Gandhi had said announcing Aiyar’s suspension.

(With Inputs From PTI and ANI)