Congress revokes Mani Shankar Aiyar's suspension, BJP expresses 'grave concern'

Aiyar who had been suspended for using the term “Neech” (low) for the Prime Minister during Gujarat election, was restored as party's primary member.

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NEW DELHI: Hitting out at the Congress for revoking the suspension of Mani Shankar Aiyar, the BJP on Sunday said the action the party had taken against the senior leader was just a sham. Addressing a press meet here, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra slammed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for restoring Aiyar's primary membership saying the matter is of "grave concern". "Revoking suspension of Mani Shankar Aiyar who used offensive language for the Prime Minister, by Congress at the behest of Rahul Gandhi, is a matter of grave concern," Patra said. Aiyar who had been suspended for using the term “Neech” (low) for the Prime Minister during Gujarat election, was restored to party's primary members with an immediate effect. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday revoked the suspension of Aiyar from the party on the recommendation of its central disciplinary committee. "Congress president Rahul Gandhi has approved the recommendations of the central disciplinary committee of AICC for revocation of suspension of Mani Shankar Aiyar from the primary membership of the Congress party with immediate effect," a statement issued by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of organisation Ashok Gehlot said. Aiyar was suspended from the primary membership of the party on December 7 last year for his "neech aadmi" remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the eve of the Gujarat Assembly polls. The suspension had followed an ultimatum given by Gandhi to Aiyar, asking him to apologise to the prime minister for the remarks. "BJP and PM routinely use filthy language to attack the Congress party. The Congress has a different culture and heritage. I do not appreciate the tone and language used by Mr Mani Shankar Aiyer to address the PM. Both the Congress and I expect him to apologise for what he said (sic)," Gandhi had tweeted. Aiyar had regretted his remarks, but not to the satisfaction of the top Congress leadership, which served him a show-cause notice thereafter. Aiyar had courted controversy in the past too when he hosted a former Pakistani foreign minister and senior Congress leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, at his residence here ahead of the Gujarat polls. The issue had become a major campaign point for the BJP. (With inputs from PTI)