Aiyar sparks row by comparing MPs with animals, Shukla offers apology

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla on Friday offered apology in the Rajya Sabha over Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar's comment comparing the opposition Members of Parliament with animals.

Shukla said that he would also ask Aiyar to apologise.

Mani Shankar Aiyar (File pic)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy earlier in the day lashed out at Aiyar, saying the latter has no right to compare his colleagues from the opposition with animals.

"Mani Shankar Aiyar has made a comment in television interview calling members of parliament as animals. Well, we absolutely agree on one thing that Parliament should not be obstructed, but does this give right to Mr Aiyar to call members of parliament as animals," Rudy asked.

"Who is Mani Shankar Aiyar?...Mani Shankar Aiyar is a member of parliament who has been nominated to Rajya Sabha and not even elected. He subsequently joins the Congress Party. I believe he has been a diplomat. He served in the Indian Foreign Service for over 25 years," he added.

Expressing astonishment at Aiyar's comment, Rudy further said, "I am just amused and shocked what he must have contributed in his 25 years as Indian Foreign Service officer, the language which he uses, the behavior which he exhibits especially in the back drop when the Congress party is being charged with corruption, 2G scam, coalgate and commonwealth games etc.... I think it's shocking."

In a television debate on Parliament deadlock over Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, Aiyar had said, "There is a decent and respectable way to express one's point of view. This behavior of the MPs reminds me of animals screaming in a well."

This came even as the Parliament stalemate over FDI came to an end yesterday after the Congress-led UPA Government agreed for a vote on the issue both in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar accepted the notice for a discussion on the issue under Rule 184, while Rajya Sabha Chairman Dr Hamid Ansari agreed to a discussion under Rule 168.