The BJP on Monday took exception to a remark, derogatory to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reportedly made by the Gujarat unit chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Gopal Italia, terming it “an insult to the democratic process of India and the State”.
The BJP’s IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya had on Sunday shared a video on Twitter where Gopal Italia, AAP's Gujarat convener, can be heard calling Mr. Modi " neech aadmi" (a lowly person). It has been reported that the video dates from 2019 and was made during the run-up to the General Elections.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters on Monday, party spokesperson Sambit Patra said the language used by the AAP with reference to the PM, “exposes AAP and shows what is their intention”.
Mr. Patra asserted that no Prime Minister can be called “ neech aadmi”, as “all Prime Ministers are democratically elected. And calling them neech aadmi (lowly person) is an insult to democratic process of India … parliamentary process of the country”.
Stating that the AAP will face the same fate as Congress did after its leader Mani Shankar Aiyar used the same invective for Mr. Modi, Mr. Patra said, "Prime Minister Modi hails from Gujarat and using such remarks against him is an insult of Gujarat too."
"Everyone has seen the condition of Congress in the entire country. Arvind Kejriwal is using the exact same language today," he said.