Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Stokes Row, Calls PM Narendra Modi 'Gandi Naali' in Lok Sabha

New Delhi, June 24: Congress' legislature leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, stoked a row while replying to the Motion of Thanks in the Parliament. Irked by BJP leader Pratap Sarangi's comparison of Modi with 20th century cultural icon Swami Vivekananda, Chowdhury said it was akin to drawing parallels between a "gandi naali (sewer) and river Ganga".

The Berhampore MP's remark created a ruckus in the House, with BJP lawmakers storming the Well and raising slogans against him. The party MPs demanded Speaker Om Birla to expunge the remarks, calling them undignified and unparliamentary. Abhinandan's Moustache Must be Made 'National Moustache', Demands Chowdhary in Lok Sabha

Members of the Treasury benches jabbed the Congress by asking who had raised the slogan of "Indira is India and India is Indira". Chowdhury, while contending that the 1970s' slogan was controversial, said it was not similar to how the BJP members have compared Modi with Vivekananda, a Hindu saint.

As ruckus ensued the House, the Speaker calmed both sides of the Lok Sabha by assuring that unparliamentary words would not be part of the official record.

Confronted by reporters outside the Parliament, Chowdhury said he would apologise to the Prime Minister if his choice of words have offended him.

"It is a misunderstanding, I didn't say 'naali', if PM is upset with it I'm sorry. I had no intention to hurt him. If PM is hurt I'll personally apologise to him. My hindi is not good, by 'naali' I meant channel," said Chowdhury, who is also the West Bengal unit chief of the Congress.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 24, 2019 05:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).