Congress to boycott PM over 'raincoat' jibe at Manmohan

The Congress on Thursday threatened to boycott Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the remaining part of the parliament Budget session if he didn't withdraw his "unacceptable" remarks against his predecessor Manmohan Singh that "only Doctor Sahab knows the art of bathing with raincoat on".

"We will boycott the Prime Mminister when he comes to the house. We will not listen to him. But, we will not assault the dignity of the office of the PM. At the same time, we will continue to protest," Anand Sharma, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, told the media here.

Modi on Wednesday took the dig at Manmohan Singh, raking up the his speech during the winter session when he described the government's demonetisation move as a "monumental mismanagement" that might shave at least two per cent off India's economic growth rate.

Modi, alluding to Manmohan Singh's clean reputation while heading a "scam-riddled" UPA government, said in the Rajya Sabha, "There is a lot for us politicians to learn... Only Doctor Sahab knows the art of bathing wearing a raincoat."

The remark sparked ruckus in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, with Congress lawmakers staging a walkout during the Modi's speech and seeking apology from the Prime Minister.

"We know that he is an obdurate person. The PM is intolerant to criticism. He lives in denial. We have an arrogant person who occupies the chair of the PM. He has demeaned his office repeatedly by his choice of words and language," Sharma said.

"We have been urging the PM to desist from doing this. But he relishes using foul languages and insulting the Opposition. He has used language which is unacceptable in political debates. He has dragged the political debates to unacceptable depths."