In a stinging attack on political rivals, BJP president Amit Shah on 5 April equated the parties trying to join hands against the BJP to 'snakes, 'mongoose, 'dogs' and 'cats'.
Later, he said his intention was not to equate Opposition parties to animals.
Addressing a rally in Mumbai, he also asserted that the Modi government will not scrap the reservation policy nor allow anyone else to do so.
When huge floods occur, everything is washed away... Only a ‘vatvriksha’ (banyan tree) survives and snakes climb onto it, mongoose climb on it, cats climb onto it, dogs climb onto it, cheetah climb onto it and lions climb onto it because of the rising waters. The flood caused by Modi has made all cats, dogs, snakes and mongoose to come together to contest polls.BJP Chief Amit Shah
He was apparently referring to the efforts being made by various parties like the TRS, the Trinamool Congress and the TDP to sew up a coalition to take on the Modi-led BJP in the next general elections.
Later, responding to questions over his remarks at a press conference, Shah said:
What I meant was political parties having no ideological similarities are coming together out of fear of Modi.
"Snake and mongoose have nothing in common. Let me take names: Samajwadi Party and BSP, Trinamool Congress and Congress, Chandrababu Naidu and Congress, they have nothing in common and no ideological similarities, but are coming together," the BJP president said.
Congress, CPI, TMC Slam Shah for Remark
The Congress and several other opposition parties slammed BJP chief Amit Shah for dragging political discourse to a "new low" after his remarks.
The CPI and the TMC also hit out at Shah for his remarks, saying one does not expect this from the president of a national party in power.
Senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said the remarks were "shameful" and reflected Shah's mindset.
Congress leader Sharma said, "The remarks made by Amit Shah are condemnable. It shows their mindset. They have repeatedly dragged the political discourse to a new low."
Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said Shah considers his political opponents as 'dogs and cats' and that is due to arrogance that has reached his head.
"Mr Shah, floods bring devastation and so does the Modi-Shah duo - For ‘distressed farmers', ‘unemployed youth', ‘SC/ST's' and ‘small traders and businessmen'.
"Don't forget, fury of the floods is temporary. We'll build ‘bandhs' of friendship to stop it forever," he tweeted.
CPI leader D Raja said this is not the language one expects from the president of a national party.
"He is also a member of the Rajya Sabha and he should remember that we are all democratic parties. People of this country will give a befitting reply," he said.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said he has used "sickening language".
National Conference chief Omar Abdullah tweeted, "Did the BJP President liken the Hon PM to a natural disaster?"
(The story has been edited for length.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)