Karnataka: Roshan Baig rages against Modi, Congress saves itself blushes

Bengaluru: The ruling Congress rushed to do damage control as a three-minute video of Urban Development Minister, R Roshan Baig, using foul language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the Tamil-speaking people of Pulakeshi Nagar in his Shivajinagar constituency, went viral on Friday.

Swiftly distancing the party from his remarks, KPCC working president, Dinesh Gundu Rao tweeted, " What Minister Roshan Baig has said is completely unwarranted. Speaking about anybody in such language and more so the Prime Minister of India is condemnable".

The video shows Mr Baig using unprintable language in Tamil while hitting out at Mr Modi for banning the Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination notes late last year.

"People hailed the PM as Namma Modi, but what happened after demonetisation? They are now abusing him using all kinds of unparliamentary words for banning the Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination notes. The ban has not only been opposed by the Congress, but also by Gujaratis and Marwaris, who are the votebanks of the BJP," he declares before going on to observe, "The Congress party developed our nation and both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi laid down their lives for the sake of the country. But now everyone is abusing AICC vice-president, Rahul Gandhi. Is this right? Mr Modi is a big liar. His 'Man Ki Baat' is a bundle of lies."

Later, speaking to a TV channel, the Minister claimed he was not aware of the meaning of the Tamil words he used. "I know only tooti- phooti Tamil and just quoted what people, traders, and Marwaris are saying after GST and demonetisation. I don't use such language and I have never used it against our PM. I don't even use such words against servants. I have the highest respect for my PM. He's not a BJP PM, but PM of the nation."

But not pacified, BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa, issued a press release to say, "Mr Baig's remarks are not only against PM Modi, but also an insult to 125 crore people of the nation. Mr Baig has lost the moral right to continue as Minister even for a minute and the CM must expel him from the ministry."

Mr Yeddyurappa recalled that when the fake stamp paper scam broke out, Mr Baig was removed from the Cabinet, and his brother was arrested. " When this is Mr Baig's background, it is unbecoming of his party to abuse the PM.”