Still get threats for PM Modi remarks: Mani Shankar Iyer

Malappuram: Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Iyer, who courted controversy over his recent remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, told reporters here on Wednesday that he and his family had been receiving threats for it. He alleged BJP was creating tension across the country in the name of religion and the Hindutva agenda put forward by Savarkar and Hedgewar were shunned by people of India during the period of freedom struggle itself.

Mr Iyer was suspended from Congress recently after he allegedly mentioned PM as “neech aadmi.” Inaugurating a national seminar at Govt College, Malappuram, on Wednesday, he said though it might take some time, the Congress will return to power in India as 90 percent of the Indians are still emotionally attached to the grand old party.

"The Indian National Congress would surely make a comeback,” Mr Iyer said.  “Nobody can thrive in India without acknowledging and endorsing the plurality and diversity of the Indian society. One needs to listen to plural voices. The tradition of India is tolerance, and every religion contributes to this,” he added.