Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Thursday said he never used the word 'chaiwala' for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Aiyar said it was Modi who himself told the world about his background.
Aiyar also defended a comment made by Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter, Priyanka Gandhi, during the election campaigning
"Priyanka made 'neech' comment about Modi's politics and his fans, like Hitler's Goebbels, interpreted it differently," Aiyar said.
In January, Aiyar had said that Modi could never become the prime minister, and added, "If he wants to sell tea here, we can arrange for it."
"Give my word, Modi will never become the prime minister in the 21st century. If he wants to sell tea at the AICC meet, we can arrange for it," he said.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app