Mani Shankar Aiyar is a diplomat turned politician but pitifully he has stolen the limelight in political circles for wrong reasons. Last time he became conspicuous by uttering something against Narendra Modi, the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate during the 2014 parliamentary elections and that has been etched in the annals for generations to recollect. He went to the extent of saying that in the 21st century Modi will never become the Prime Minister of the country. What he said further is even more abominable – if he wants to distribute tea here, we will find a place for him.  

What followed thereafter is history, for the man who had never ascended the steps of Parliament before, rose to be the Prime Minister with the BJP winning by a thumping majority. I cannot imagine what ordeal Mani Shankar Aiyar might have had to undergo on seeing how his remarks were countered by the ascendancy of Modi not just to be the top leader in India but earned recognition the world over in just a few years. It is rightly said that we should learn from past experience lest we commit the same mistakes. But quite often that is not the case particularly with the politicians.

Now the same Congressman has captured the headlines once again in calling Narendra Modi a ‘neech kism ka aadmi’ who has no ‘sabhyata’, implying that Modi is a low caste person having no civility. Can there be anything more outrageous than this? Whereas the BJP was quick to capitalise on this point making the reckless remarks a poll issue and downgrading the Congress, the latter was in a terrible state of turmoil and the best it could do was to distance itself from the remarks and even condemning the statement and to maintain its rapport with the electorate it has removed Aiyar from the primary membership of the Congress party. How Aiyar’s jibe would reflect on the Gujarat elections to be held these days will be known shortly.

Will our politicians learn to tone down their articulations taking a cue from this sordid episode? In the past we have witnessed many irresponsible statements made by politicians of all hues. Do such malicious mouth bashings make us proud?