Congress stalwart Mani Shankar Aiyar's call for the government to "respect Pakistan" due to its possession of nuclear weapons set off a political firestorm recently.
With the looming impact of Aiyar's statements during an election period, the Congress swiftly distanced itself from his remarks, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wasted no time in seizing upon them to criticize the opposition party's supposed affinity for Pakistan.
Several BJP leaders expressed outrage over Aiyar's apparent praise of Pakistan at India's expense, portraying it as indicative of the Congress's overall mindset, given Aiyar's influential position within the party's ranks.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized that Aiyar's views were personal and underscored India's vastly enhanced strength compared to Pakistan. He also recalled India's role in splitting Pakistan during the Indira Gandhi era.
In a video statement, Congress Spokesperson Pawan Khera unequivocally distanced the party from Aiyar's remarks, accusing the BJP of attempting to deflect attention from Prime Minister's daily gaffes by dredging up old videos. Khera also questioned the context of External Affairs Minister Jaishankar's remarks on China.
Khera made a historical reference to Indira Gandhi's decisive leadership in the division of Pakistan in 1971.
Following the viral circulation of Aiyar's video, Union Ministers and senior BJP figures criticized both the Congress and Aiyar for his statements.
Anurag Thakur asserted that such remarks revealed Congress leaders' partiality towards Pakistan, accusing them of harboring allegiance to foreign powers.
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar accused the Congress of being apologists for Pakistan and terrorism emanating from there, while also taking aim at Rahul Gandhi's leadership.
BJP Spokesperson Rohan Gupta emphasized the significance of Aiyar's comments, highlighting his influential role in shaping Congress policies and suggesting that they epitomized the party's skewed priorities regarding Pakistan.
Aiyar made the controversial "respect Pakistan" statement during an interview with a YouTube channel Chill Pill last month, where he advocated for dialogue and diplomacy rather than escalating tensions between the two nations.
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