Congress revokes Mani Shakar Aiyar's suspension

Congresson Saturday revoked the suspension of senior party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, news agency ANI reported.

Aiyar was suspended from the primary membership of the party December last year over his comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Modi, at a rally in Gujarat in December, alleged that Congress veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar had called him "neech".

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Congress had issued a show cause notice to Aiyar and later suspended him from the party.

"Congress leaders are speaking in a language that is not acceptable in a democracy. One Congress leader, who has studied in best institutions, served as a diplomat, was a Minister in Cabinet, said Modi is 'Neech.' This is insulting. This is nothing but a Mughalai mindset," PM Modi had said at an election rally in Gujarat.

Mani Shankar Aiyar had retorted saying that "Everyday PM is using foul language against our leaders. I am a freelance Congressi, I hold no post in the party, so I can reply to PM in his language."

Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi had asked Aiyar to apologise claiming that disrespecting the Prime Minister was never part of the party's culture.

"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," the Congress leader tweeted.

"Both the Congress and I expect him to apologise for what he said," he added.