From neech to Aurangzebi raj: The war of words between BJP and Congress

With the Gujarat going to the polls, name calling has peaked this election season with words like neech and Babar bhakt being flung around.

>> Mani Shankar Aiyar’s ‘neech kisam ka aadmi’ barb

On Thursday, Congress veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar, set off a political firestorm when he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “neech kism ka aadmi” (a vile sort of man).

Aiyar was suspended from the party shortly after he made the remark and issued a show cause notice. Proffering an apology, Aiyar said the word ‘neech’ holds different meanings and added he would want to apologise for the wrong translation.

• Cong suspends Aiyar for calling PM 'neech'; Modi says it's 'Mughal mentality'

Aiyar said, “I meant a low-minded person when I said ‘neech’. I tend to think in English when I speak in Hindi as Hindi is not my mother tongue. I never meant low-born. In English, there is a clear distinction between ‘low’ and ‘low-born’. So if it has some other meaning or it means ‘low-born’ only, then I apologise for the wrong translation. The word I used has different meanings and the meaning Prime Minister Modi is making out is not what I meant.”

This is not the first time Aiyar has made a derogatory remark about the prime minister.

He had, in January 2014, before the Modi-wave took the nation by surprise, said “Modi would never become prime minister, but he was welcome to serve tea to Congressmen.”

>> ‘Aurangzebi Raaj’: Modi’s dig at Rahul's elevation

On December 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi likened the imminent elevation of Rahul Gandhi to dynastic succession of Mughal rulers.

Addressing a rally in Dharampur in Valsad district of election-bound Gujarat, the PM said, “Does the Congress accept that it is a one family party? We don’t want this Aurangzebi Raaj (Aurangzeb’s rule)... For us, country comes first, 125 crore people of this country are our high-command.”

• GUJARAT POLLS: FULL COVERAGE

>> Rahul is ‘Babar bhakt’ and ‘kin of Khilji’: BJP attacks Gandhi

Abuse by using the name of Mughals seems to be the flavour of the season. 

On Wednesday, BJP leader Narsimha Rao called Rahul Gandhi a “Babar bhakt” and a “Kin of Khilji” for refusing to clear the party’s stand on the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

“Rahul Gandhi has teamed up with Owaisis, Jilanis to oppose Ram temple in Ayodhya. Rahul Gandhi is certainly a Babar Bhakt and a Kin of Khilji,” Rao said.

The comments came on the backdrop of a raging debate over Gandhi’s religion after his name was found written on the entry register meant for non-Hindus after a visit to Somnath temple.

>> Rahul’s Gabbar Singh tax jibe

A part of the Congress’s campaign is built on attacking the BJP government on demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax. In a series of election rallies, Gandhi said: “Modi ji forced Gabbar Singh Tax on people. He destroyed the small and medium sized business houses with that one step.