Attacking Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for making casteist remarks against Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi by referring to the backward community to which he belongs, the BJP on Saturday demanded an apology from the minister as well as Congress. The party asked the Congress leadership to “restrain its ministers and spokespersons.” It also alleged that the Congress “has made a habit of using vituperative language” on the social media against the opposition, and there is a need to deal with it.
“External affairs minister Salman Khurshid used derogatory language against Modi. Ghulam Nabi Azad not just insulted Modi by calling him Gangu Teli but also insulted the community to which he belongs. This is unfortunate,” said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain. The party demanded that Mr Azad should take back his words immediately and tender an apology for allegedly insulting all backward castes and especially the members of the particular community.
“Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has cast a casteist aspersion and used casteist remarks against Modi. Calling somebody a “Gangu Teli” is an insult not only to OBCs but practically to the whole country. We demand that Azad and Congress should apologise for this,” said another BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.
BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted “Shri Ghulam Azad’s casteist reference “Gangu Teli” to Mr Modi, slimy & condemnable.