Congress seeks PM Narendra Modi's apology on Somalia remark

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress leaders have rallied together to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks comparing Kerala with Somalia and said that it was an insult to the people of the state.    The leaders, including CWC member A.K. Antony, Rajya Sabha Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, tried to cash in on the embarrassment caused to the BJP by Mr Modi’s baseless remarks.

Mr Antony asked Mr Modi to correct his statement and said that Somalia was the land of poverty and pirates. Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is on a three-day visit to the state, said Mr Modi should not have abused the people of Kerala, though he was free to abuse the Congress.

“The PM and the BJP should apologise to the people. This shows the ignorance of the PM as Malayalis are the most enterprising and have proved their mettle in every sector,” said Mr Azad.

Mr Sudheeran said Mr Modi’s statement would give a huge setback to the BJP. His words were unwarranted and substandard and did not suit the stature of the Prime Minister, he said.

“The BJP which had kicked off a high-profile campaign using money power has landed in trouble with the controversial statements made by the PM on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the people of Kerala,” he said.   Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that Mr Modi was resorting to rhetoric and high-handedness because of which he  was yet to correct his statements.