Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asked senior party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar to apologise for his “neech” barb against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Expressing his thoughts on Twitter, Gandhi said that it is not the Congress party’s culture to use such language against political opponents.

“BJP and Prime Minister routinely use filthy language to attack the Congress party. The Congress has a different culture and heritage. I do not appreciate the tone and language used by Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyer to address the Prime Minister. Both the Congress and I expect him to apologise for what he said,” Gandhi tweeted.

BJP and PM routinely use filthy language to attack the Congress party. The Congress has a different culture and heritage. I do not appreciate the tone and language used by Mr Mani Shankar Aiyer to address the PM. Both the Congress and I expect him to apologise for what he said.

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) December 7, 2017

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar for calling him a “neech jaati” (low caste) man and said by this he has insulted all the Gujaratis will give a befitting reply to the Congress by voting for the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections.

“They can call me ‘neech jaati’. Yes, I am from the poor section of society and will spend every moment of my life to work for the poor, Dalits, tribals and backward classes. That is my culture. They can keep their language, we will do our work,” Modi told an election rally here.

PM Modi slammed Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Twitter, saying that the remarks reflect”Congress mindset” and “People will answer them through the ballot box”.

I have nothing to say on a ‘wise’ Congress leader calling me ’Neech’. This is the Congress mindset. They have their language and we have our work. People will answer them through the ballot box. https://t.co/2McoZnaoar pic.twitter.com/icGqAphUzy

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 7, 2017

He was responding to Aiyar who had earlier in the day called Modi “bahut neech kisam ka aadmi hai” in Delhi. “He is a very cheap person. Has no manners. What is the need to do such dirty politics on this occasion (at the inaugural of Bhimrao Ambedkar research centre in Delhi).”

(With agency inputs)