New Delhi, Feb 26 (PTI): BJP today slammed Union Minister Salman Khurshid for describing Narendra Modi as "impotent" and asked him to apologise for the "regrettable" and "shameful" comment, saying it only reflects the Congress party's "desperation".
BJP leaders said Congress and its leaders have "forgotten manners and etiquettes" and asked if Sonia Gandhi approved of this comment.
"The comment is not only regrettable but shameful, coming from a person who is the foreign affairs minister of India. It is a new low. I can understand their desperation but let me ask Sonia Gandhi does she approve of this comment. Khurshid should apologise for the kind of language he has used against Modi. The desperation is there and the people will give response," said BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi advised Congress leaders to keep patience.
"They are using this kind of language as they are frustrated...All the senior leaders and ministers are aware that they would be wiped out. This kind of statements will take them nowhere.
"We would like to advise them to keep some patience. Elections will come and go, you shall reap what you sow. The people will account for your scams, your performance, your corruption with interests. Why are you so worried," he said.
The External Affairs Minister had yesterday called the Gujarat Chief Minister as "impotent".
"Some people came, attacked and went, and you couldn't protect. Are you not a strong man?," he had said.
"We don't accuse you (Modi) of killing people... Hamara aarop hai ki tum 'napunsak'(impotent) ho. (Our accusation is that you are impotent). You couldn't stop the killers," he added. 'napunsak' is a term used for impotent men in Hindi.
Another senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that Congress and its leaders have "forgotten manners and etiquettes" and asked Rahul Gandhi whether he had imparted this kind of training to his leaders.
"Congress is forgetting manners and etiquettes. Congress and its leaders talk of Indian culture but the kind of words they use are against Indian culture. Khurshid has studied abroad, his party gives more importance to foreign values but no Congress leader has the right to tear apart Indian culture," Hussain said.
Condemning the statement, he asked whether Rahul Gandhi has imparted this kind of training to party leaders.
"Did he ask his leaders and spokespersons that if they cannot fight Modi, they would resort to use of foul language. We would like to tell Soniaji and Rahul Gandhi that they should control their leaders and ask them to mind their language," he said.
Taking a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh said, "A man is one who fights a war, not one who runs away from the battlefield. The person, who you want to announce as your Prime Ministerial candidate, is running away ...then what would you call him, that is what is called impotent".
"Khurshid should know who is a man. Modi has been declared our party's PM candidate and he is challenging everyone and not running away like your prince," he said.
BJP leader Prakash Javdekar asked whether the Gandhi family approves of these kind of comments.
"Everybody is condemning the indecent remarks of Khurshid against Modi and we are asking Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi whether this is the Congress culture they approve of. When people are staring at defeat, they lose their balance and start abusing.
"Those who abuse are downgraded in the public mind, not the person who they are abusing. Because abuse is the weakest point of anybody when he has no answers, where the logic stops, abuse begins. Therefore, every sane person in this country is condemning Khurshid, the way he is speaking, it shows their desperation," he said.