JUST IN: Mani Shankar Aiyar has been suspended from primary membership of the Congress, reports ANI.

A show cause notice has also been issued to him for his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Aiyar stirred controversy today after calling Modi as 'neech aadmi', by which, he later clarified, he meant to refer to 'the PM's low level' and not to 'his origins or family'.

Soon after his remarks, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had disapproved of it and asked him tender an apology.

Modi, addressing a rally in Surat, said Aiyar's remark was an insult to Gujarat and people of the state will respond with ballot.  -- with ANI inputs