The statement, made in the Rajya Sabha, was an attempt to facilitate the smooth functioning of Parliament’s winter session, which has been disrupted repeatedly over comments made by Prime Minister Modi ahead of the Gujarat elections earlier this month. Azad, in what appeared to be a show of good faith, was referring to a statement made by Mani Shankar Aiyar that the prime minister was “neech” (lowly). Modi usually attends the Rajya Sabha on Wednesdays, when issues related to the PMO are listed during Question Hour. Singh responded by saying he was “pained and anguished by the falsehood and canards” being spread by the prime minister. “Modi is setting a dangerous precedent by his insatiable desire to tarnish every constitutional office, including that of a former prime minister and Army chief,” Singh said.

Source: Hindustan Times December 27, 2017 09:32 UTC