After the immediate suspension of veteran leader Mani Shankar Aiyar for his out of line comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress launched a counter offensive against the BJP for use of coarse discourse.
Speaking at press conference in Ahmedabad on Friday, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said the BJP should follow Rahul Gandhi’s example and reign in motormouths in his own party.
“You can use harshest words to criticise policies of your opponent, but the criticism should never get personal,” Mr. Surjewala said, applauding the party vice-president for taking the unprecedented step of suspending Mr Aiyar. “We want to ask Modi ji , can you show similar courage? Your party and yourself every day use vulgar language for the Congress and other opposition parties. Will you apologise for it?” he said.
Comments on Sonia
The Congress leader went on to list BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s jibes against the Congress and its leaders. “The PM himself in the last Assembly elections had called Congress president Sonia Gandhi, one of the tallest leaders in India an Italian Jersey Cow. Will he belatedly apologise for it?” Mr Surjewala asked.
He also questioned Mr. Modi’s comments on Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s late wife Sunanda Pushkar, whom he [Modi] had referred to as “₹50 crore ki girlfriend” and termed the Congress symbol of an open palm a “ Khooni Panja ” (bloodied palm) even as he had called the Congress on numerous occasions “termites”.
“Were all these comments right? Now all eyes are on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead the way in maintaining public propriety,” he said.
According to insiders the swift decision to suspend Mr. Aiyar is part of the Congress strategy to not play a defensive game. “We were very clear this time, that there will no silence over any controversy and BJP will be countered word-for-word and action for action,” a senior Congress functionary said.
