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HomePoliticsUllu hun, par itna bhi nahi: Mani Shankar Aiyar refuses to clarify...

Ullu hun, par itna bhi nahi: Mani Shankar Aiyar refuses to clarify remark on PM Modi

Earlier in an article for ThePrint, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar referred to his 'neech aadmi' remark against PM Modi and called it prophetic.

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Shimla: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, who revived his ‘neech aadmi’ jibe by terming it ‘prophetic’ in an article published recently, refused to comment on his remark saying he did not want to be involved in the media’s “games.”

Speaking to media here on Tuesday, Aiyar, while refusing to give any clarification on terming Modi ‘foul-mouthed’ in an article for ThePrint , said, “There is no need for clarification. I have been told that the Congress party has given an official statement. There is a whole article, picking out one line from it and saying “now talk on this”. I am not ready to be involved in your games, ‘main ullu hoon, lekin itna bada ullu nahi hoon’ (I could be stupid but not so stupid).” “Anything I say is misused because there are people who hate me. They hate me because I speak the truth but I will keep doing so”, he added.
He also accused media of “victimising” him and said significant damage has been caused to his reputation because of the media.

“It is media’s job to criticise. But in a democracy, if media is suppressed below power, it is counterproductive for democracy. I believe it is happening today hence I exercise some caution,” he said.

Exuding confidence in his party winning the Lok Sabha elections, Aiyar said the country will get back to times of Pandit Nehru after May 23.

“I was six years old when JL Nehru became prime minister and I was 23 years old when he died. Hence I have lived in that political environment and I have learned the political language of that era. There can be no comparison between that period and the environment that present government has created,” he explained.

Recalling his memories of the first Prime Minister of India, Aiyar said, “I am hoping that within 9 days the government will change and we will be able to reach to the times of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. I don’t think the prime minister or the current government can have any such thoughts about elected leaders of opposition now. Fortunately, this is going to end in 10 days.”

Citing an example of Nehru’s fondness for late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Aiyar added “When AB Vajpayee got elected to parliament for the first time he was 32-years-old. He was among 3-4 members of Jan Sangh but still, Pandit Nehru said to his associates that this boy can probably take his place as Prime Minister.”

Earlier in the day, Aiyar stood firm on his ‘neech aadmi’ jibe against Modi. “I said what I wanted to say in that article, I stand by every word. I have no desire to engage in any argument,” he told ANI over the phone.

The Congressman hit yet another low by terming the Prime Minister “foul-mouthed” and added that his ouster is certain on May 23. Aiyar, in an article for an online publication, charged Modi of being “guilty of anti-national activity in trying to ride on the sacrifices of martyrs”.

Aiyar is not new to making out of the line remarks. His ‘chaiwala’ remark ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha polls had stoked a controversy. “Congress would welcome Modi to sell tea at party meetings,” he had said.


Also read: Mani Shankar Aiyar’s ‘neech’ remark is hardly the game-changer BJP was looking for


 

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4 COMMENTS

  1. I have a feeling that Mani Shankar Aiyar might be secretly on the rolls of BJP. Why otherwise will a person who made it to Rajya Sabha on quota of being a man of letters say something that can only benefit the major adversary of his party?

  2. 1. Individuals like Mani Shankar Aiyar wish to be in news somehow and that was the reason why he described our PM Narendra Modi as ‘neech aadmi’ (vile man)” way back in 2017. He did realise the consequences than and was suspended from Congress party. 2. Perhaps in the current political scenario Aiyar may be sensing his chance to win back confidence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi. 3. Aiyar’s basic objective in doing what he is doing would be to seek an official position in the party organization. It is not certain that Aiyar would succeed in winning back confidence of Rahul Gandhi; perhaps he will have to wait for a while. Citizen-voters’ strategy should be just ignore individuals like Aiyar who deserve to be ignored.

  3. You have enemies? That’s good. It means you stood for something in your life, so said Winston Churchill. MSA is on the same league. People who don’t understand his writings, do end up in misintrepting some thing he has never spoken or written. In Hindi language we often hear people saying “woh neech kism ka aadmi hai” and this is what BJP misused with a claim that MSA has Modiji is neech. It was Modi again deliberately claimed former PM, COA, VP and others have assembled at MSA’s plan to install Ahmed Patel with support of Pakistan. Now who is Gujarat CM. Press has at times Used MSA to help BJP.

  4. That is an insult to OWLS. “Wisdom of an Owl” is a compliment to someone’s intelligence. Iyer is using an exactly opposite meaning: that of a “FOOL”. He should apologise to OWLS. No one will mind him calling himself a ‘FOOL’, IF he wants another allusion.

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