New Delhi: A video of AAP Gujarat unit chief Gopal Italia is doing rounds on social media platforms in which he is heard calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “neech aadmi” (a lowly person).
In the undated clip, he can be heard saying, “Elections are going on. Has any PM in the past taken out a roadshow and put up an act before casting his or her vote? The ‘neech’ person is doing a roadshow here and showing how he can take the whole country for a ride”.
It has been reported that the video is from 2019 and was made during the run-up to the general elections.
The video was also shared by BJP’s IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya on Sunday, who said that using such profanities and abusing Gujarat’s pride and son of the soil is “an insult to every Gujarati”.
Just as offensive it is to call the Prime Minister “नीच”, it is equally disrespectful to use the “C” word, as it is hugely disrespectful and abusive towards women. It is an insult to India’s Nari Shakti. People won’t forgive AAP and Arvind Kejriwal for it… https://t.co/ktbsWk8w5r— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) October 9, 2022
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also hit out at Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP and said that the kind of language used by Italia for Prime Minister “exposes AAP and shows what is their intention.”
He asserted that no Prime Minister can be called “neech admi” as “all Prime Ministers are democratically elected”.
“…And calling them neech aadmi (lowly person) is an insult to democratic process of India and parliamentary process of the country,” Patra said.
Gopal Italia, who is the President of AAP Gujarat,
By using abusive language like ‘neech’ for Prime Minister Modi ji, it shows the disgusting mentality of Aam Aadmi Party and it also exposes their intention. pic.twitter.com/bI3aMQdkJb— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) October 10, 2022
For Arvind Kejriwal
Gujarati is ‘neech’ and the people of the country are ‘C’.
This disgusting mentality of Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party shows their intention for Gujarat and countrymen. pic.twitter.com/ffBceJMyeY— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) October 10, 2022
Stating that AAP will face the same fate as Congress did after its leader Mani Shankar Aiyar used the same invective for Modi, he said, “Prime Minister Modi hails from Gujarat and using such remarks against him is an insult of Gujarat too.”
The result of Mani Shankar Aiyar’s language was that the Congress was completely destroyed in Gujarat.
Everyone has seen the condition of Congress in the entire country.
Arvind Kejriwal and his party are also using the exact same language today. pic.twitter.com/Ze60Sg0sFD
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) October 10, 2022
Arvind Kejriwal is the same leader who –
Words like ‘coward’ and ‘psycopath’ were used for Prime Minister Modi. Today their leaders are also following their guru Arvind Kejriwal. pic.twitter.com/MRNqIRstOX— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) October 10, 2022
Using derogatory words for Prime Minister Modi is an insult to the poor, backward and deprived society of the country and to the democratic process of the country. pic.twitter.com/tctpdMftPe— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) October 10, 2022
“Everyone has seen the condition of Congress in the entire country. Arvind Kejriwal is using the exact same language today,” he said.
Gujarat has been a stronghold of the BJP, where it has been in power for nearly three decades, and AAP has been trying to make inroads in the state by positioning itself as the main challenger to the saffron party.
The elections in the state are scheduled to be held later this year.
(With agency inputs)