Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has reiterated that he never made casteist comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, distancing himself from long-standing accusations tied to his 2017 "neech" remark.​ The controversy originated during the Gujarat election campaign when Aiyar called Modi a "neech kism ka aadmi," leading to his immediate suspension from Congress.

PM Modi interpreted it as a casteist slur implying "neech jaati" (low caste), given his OBC background, sparking nationwide outrage and BJP's narrative of elitist Congress disdain for humble origins. Aiyar has consistently clarified that "neech" meant "low-level" or "vulgar" in conduct, not caste—blaming his limited Hindi proficiency. In subsequent interviews and his memoir, he stood firm, calling the interpretation a BJP distortion while refusing regrets, even labeling it "prophetic."

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Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, swiftly condemned the remark and demanded an apology, reflecting internal damage control amid electoral stakes. The episode revived Aiyar's history of gaffes, like calling Vajpayee "nalayak," cementing his "foot-in-mouth" reputation within and beyond the party.​

Nearly a decade later, Aiyar invokes the denial amid resurgent political debates on caste rhetoric. The clarification underscores enduring Congress-BJP divides, where language becomes ammunition in identity politics. Aiyar's steadfast defense highlights his Nehru-era ideological roots, contrasting modern party discipline. As Modi campaigns on backward-class empowerment, such episodes fuel narratives of upper-caste bias in opposition ranks.

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