New Delhi: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar’s remark last month asking India to talk to and respect Pakistan because it also has an “atom bomb” triggered a somewhat belated political storm Friday, with BJP leaders latching onto it to train their guns on the Congress for their purported fondness for the neighbouring country.
The Congress is now in firefighting mode, with its president Mallikarjun Kharge distancing the party from Aiyar’s comments.
“Mani Shankar Aiyar has put his thoughts forward. But India is 100 times more powerful than Pakistan. We will stay united for the country. Who divided Pakistan into two parts? Indira Gandhi did it and liberated Bangladesh,” Kharge said, addressing a press conference in Telangana.
“In 1976, Indira ji tested the anubomb in Pokhran. We (India) have everything. Now, it depends how Modi uses it or he talks only about cows and buffaloes,” he added.
Aiyar’s remarks came close on the heels of controversial remarks by another veteran Congressman, Sam Pitroda, who resigned as the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress after backlash over his “racist” remarks on India’s diversity.
What did Aiyar say?
The clip from Aiyar’s 15 April interview with the YouTube channel Chill Pill was widely shared across social media today, featuring his advice on how to handle Pakistan.
“It (Pakistan) is also a sovereign nation. They also have respect,” Aiyar said in the video. ‘While respecting them, do as much tough talk as you want. But at least talk. You are roaming with a gun. Nothing could be resolved by that. Tensions only increase. They have an atom bomb. Yes we also have. But… talk to them. Give them respect. Then they won’t think about their bomb.”
The veteran Congressman added that not talking might open the space for more trouble.
“If like kids you say katti and don’t speak to them, a mad person might come there and take out the bomb. Then what will happen?” he asked.
Aiyar also asserted that to become a “vishwaguru”, India needs to show the world it’s trying to find a solution with Pakistan despite strained relations.
“All efforts have been stopped for the last 10 years,” he rued.
Fiery reaction from BJP
BJP leaders wasted no time taking potshots at Mani Shankar Aiyar over his comments, with party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla even making a video mocking the “Pakistan prem (love)” of the Congress.
The Congress quickly distanced itself from Aiyar’s remarks.
“Indian National Congress dissociates itself completely from and disagrees totally with some remarks made by Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar few months back which have been revived today by the BJP in its attempt to deflect attention from Prime Minister Modi’s daily goof ups. Mr Aiyer does not speak for the party in any capacity whatsoever.”, party spokesperson Pawan Khera wrote on X.
Indian National Congress dissociates itself completely from and disagrees totally with some remarks made by Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar few months back which have been revived today by the BJP in its attempt to deflect attention from Prime Minister Modi’s daily goof ups. Mr Aiyer… pic.twitter.com/MQAPR0MXfx
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) May 10, 2024
Khera also referenced India’s victory in the 1971 war under the “decisive” leadership of Indira Gandhi and the announcement of the country’s “nuclear capability” on 18 May 1974.
“The Indian National Congress has always believed that our decision making should be guided by supreme national interest,” Khera wrote.
However, BJP leaders continued to target the party despite these attempts.
“Congress leaders stay in India but their hearts reside in Pakistan”, said Union minister Anurag Thakur, speaking to the media. “That’s why leaders in Pakistan are giving comments in favour of Congress party.”
Meanwhile, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar told mediapersons that the Congress has become an “apologist for Pakistan and Pakistan-based terror”.
Rahul Gandhi and his #CONgress have become apologists and defenders for Pakistan and Pakistan-based terrorism.
Recent statements by Mani Shankar Aiyer and Sam Pitroda clearly reveal the Congress' ideology to the public.
I want to make one thing abundantly clear: This is PM… pic.twitter.com/mLxKIrRcdO
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳(Modiyude Kutumbam) (@Rajeev_GoI) May 10, 2024
He also linked Aiyar’s comments to Pitroda’s, claiming they “reveal the Congress’ ideology to the public”.
Aiyar’s remarks are yet another embarrassment for the Congress, just two days after the party had to distance itself from Sam Pitroda’s comments. In an interview with The Statesman last week, he had said that people in eastern India look like the “Chinese,” those in the west like “Arabs,” those in the north like “White” people, and those in the south like people from “Africa”.
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(Edited by Asavari Singh)