NOW, BABBAR LIKENS FALLING ` TO PM MOTHER AGE

BJP demands apology from Congress president

Indore, Nov. 23: Congress leader Raj Babbar dragged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother into the shrill Assembly poll campaign comparing the rupee’s falling value against the US dollar with her age, sparking demands by the BJP on Friday for an apology from him and also his party chief Rahul Gandhi.

Indore, Nov. 23: Congress leader Raj Babbar’s remark comparing the rupee’s falling value against the US dollar with the age of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother kicked up a controversy on Friday, with the BJP demanding an apology from the Opposition party’s president Rahul Gandhi.

Mr Babbar made the controversial remark while addressing a rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city on Thursday. Madhya Pradesh goes to polls on November 28 and results will be declared on December 11. “(Before becoming the Prime Minister) Mr Modi used to say that compared to the (US) dollar, the value of the rupee has fallen to a level where it is almost the same as the age of the then Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh),” Mr Babbar, the Uttar Pradesh Congress chief, said.

“Mr Prime Minister, at that time, you had not taken his (Manmohan Singh) name out of respect. Although our tradition does not allow this, we wish to say that now the value of the rupee has fallen to the age of your respected mother,” he added.

Mr Modi’s mother, Hiraba, is a nonagenarian. The rupee has seen a continued fall against the US dollar this year, hovering a little over ould apologise and he should clarify whether he endorses such controversial statements,” he said.

BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra said it was not proper to use unparliamentary words or drag any person's mother into politics. “But the Congress’ attitude against the prime minister’s mother has been improper from the beginning and such language was used even against the prime minister,” he claimed. “Rahul Gandhi

(Before becoming the Prime Minister) Mr Modi used to say that compared to the (US) dollar, the value of the rupee has fallen to a level where it is almost the same as the age of the then Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh)

— RAJ BABBAR

Mr Babbar made the controversial remark while addressing a rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city on Thursday.

The Congress on Friday sought to the blame the BJP for lowering public discourse in the country and said the onus of maintaining civilised debate lies with the ruling party.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari alleged that a spate of "offensive" statements against former and current Congress presidents had emanated from the BJP leaders.

should apologise and he should clarify whether he endorses such controversial statements,”

Patra told reporters in

Indore.

Meanwhile, Rupani said Mr Babbar’s comments

were a result of the Congress’ frustration as it was losing public support and polls. —PTI