Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Image credit: PTI
New Delhi: Congress demanded that BJP apologise for spokesperson Prem Shukla's usage of "abusive and indecent language" for Sonia Gandhi. The party asked PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief JP Nadda to take responsibility for the incident.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh in a letter to JP Nadda warned that if such speech is repeated, the party will be filing a defamation suit. Shukla spoke against Sonia Gandhi during a discussion on a national news channel on July 23.
Ramesh observed that top leaders and spokespersons of the BJP, who talk about culture, have repeatedly used objectionable language against respected women, especially the 75-year-old president of a national party.
He added that the use of abusive words for the leaders of the opposition shows the anti-women thinking of the BJP. "Due to such objectionable remarks, the level of politics of the country is going down."
In his letter, the Congress leader noted that respect for women has been a great tradition in India since Vedic times. He added that decency and respectful behaviour towards women is naturally expected from the ruling BJP party. "But, the party has repeatedly disappointed us with its language and behaviour."
He called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ask BJP spokespersons and leaders to not hurt the dignity of politics and refrain from abusive language. He added that this is not the first time Shukla has used abusive language against women.
He wrote that the Prime Minister also made "objectionable" comments against respected Indian women in the past and he has not apologised for his inappropriate words to date.
"When a person holding a high office like that of the prime minister lowers the dignity of that office, the spokesperson of his party will naturally use abusive words for opposition leaders. The level of politics of the country is continuously deteriorating due to this type of disrespect and shameful rhetoric," he added.