PM Narendra Modi on Friday once again attacked under-fire suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, saying the latter had asked people of Pakistan to remove him “from the way.” “Mani Shankar Aiyar told people when he visited Pakistan – remove Modi from the way and then see what will happen to India-Pakistan peace. What did he mean by removing me from the way,” Modi said in Banaskantha. “And what is my crime- that we have the blessings of the people,” he said. Meanwhile, addressing a rally, Rahul Gandhi also used Aiyar’s name and said that party had removed the leader. “We are not BJP, we are Congress, we respect our PM,” Rahul Gandhi said.
“Congress party hindustan ke PM ki kursi ka aadar karti hai. Aur congress party mein galat shabd prayog karke koi bhi PM ke bare mein nahi bol sakta. Modi ji humare baare mein kuch bhi keh sakte hain. Isliye humne Mani Shankar Aiyar par sakht karyawahi ki,” Rahul Gandhi said at Chotta Udaipur. (The Congress party respects PM chair. No leader in Congress can use foul language against the Prime Minister. Modi ji can say anything about us. That’s why we have acted against Mani Shankar Aiyar).
Meanwhile, Mani Shankar Aiyar also spoke to media and said that he is saddened if any damage has been done to the Cogress because of his comments. “If any damage has been done to Congress because of what I said or did then I am saddened by it. I had no such intention,” Aiyar said. “I am ready to accept any punishment that the Congress party wants to give me,” he added.
On Thursday, Aiyar sparked a massive controversy as he used the term ‘neech’ for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Aiyar’s remark drew four-corner criticism. Soon after the statement, PM Modi hit back at Aiyar and called the statement an outcome of ‘Mughal mindset’. Later, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi asked Aiyar to issue an apology. However, Aiyar tried to cover up and said that he didn’t mean to hurt sentiments. Later, Congress suspended Aiyar for his remarks.