By Devika Bedi
Mani Shankar Aiyar has been suspended from Congress party for using filthy language against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His rhetoric of neech has faced condemnation from all sides. In 2014 too, Priyanka Gandhi, a Gandhi scion, embarrassed Congress by referring Modi-RSS practising neech rajniti.
Attack on Modi
He (Narendra Modi) is neech kism ka aadmi (a vile man) who has no sabhyata (civility), Aiyar said while attacking Modi for accusing the Congress of seeking votes in the name of B.R. Ambedkar, according to a report by Press Trust of India.
Mani Shankars career started in the year 1963 after he joined the Indian Foreign Service where he served for over 15 years. Mani Shankar Aiyar has extensively travelled with Rajiv Gandhi, the then prime minister, and had written his speeches. He went on to join politics 1989. The use of such language is shocking and uncalled for a politician with this qualification and experience.
Although the anti-Modi wave in the country is in full-swing, opposition in the country has been very vocal and sensational about the BJP and especially PM Modi. Aiyar had earlier referred the PM as chaiwala and had sought Pakistans support in uprooting the present government. Congress had till now being reserved about taking any action against the veteran leader. However, it is speculated that public allergy and present victorious influence of the party in Uttar Pradesh had urged Congress to take action against Mani Shankar Aiyar.
Evolution of political remarks
Indian polity is not new to such remarks. The age of 1950s and 1960s saw racist comments, personal remarks and inappropriate rhetoric against each other. The coming new age, however, has seen the competition grow leading to remarks that are often below the belt and morally absurd. Political leaders like Mani Shankar Aiyar posses responsibility of being morally sound and encouraging actions likewise. He has but bandwagoned an arena which advocates political discourses about hate speeches and unfair, misinformed citizenry.
Leaders earlier possessed an unsaid moral code of ethics and answerability to the people for their behaviour in the public sphere. The accusations were treated with counter-accusations but there persisted a mutual understanding between them.
Reaction to the comment
Narendra Modi has in reply asked his supporters to not respond to the abusive language on social media or elsewhere and rather go ahead in choosing him as the electoral choice. “But if you have any anger over the use of such words against me, press the button alongside the lotus symbol on 9th and 14th (Gujarat polling dates),” PM Modi said. The word neech that is commonly denoted for a person of lower caste has struck a polemical verve in the nation and across various parties. BJPs response indicated the counter-narrative to Congresss feudal mindset.
Aiyars response to criticism against him has been another coffin in his turbulent political career. Do I apologise about the word low? No. Do I apologise about the translation low-born? Absolutely, he said. He went on to say that that “If the Congress suffers any damage in the Gujarat polls because of my comments, then whatever punishment the party deems fit I will accept it,” he said. “…There is no future for India if there is no Congress.“
Learning from history
Unlike Mani Shankar Aiyar, Shashi Tharoor has also landed in trouble but he has been a fast learner. BJP has been quick to use it as an election bait to prove that he has insulted in Gujarats son. Do I expect this statement to have an impact? Not at all. At the centre of the election debate in Gujarat is the states model of development. The voters have already made up their minds about who to vote for. All this is background noise, feels Abhay Kumar Dubey, a social science scholar at Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.
This incident has left Mani Shankar Aiyar devoid of political support and goodwill. Being branded as a typical babu by more than few political experts and commentators, he must now measure the winds of change in the unforgiving political environment.
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