Mani Shankar Aiyar has caused controversy yet again. The veteran Congress leader has again embarrassed his party, this time with remarks on the academic failures of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Cambridge and Imperial College, London. While the BJP latched on to his words, Congress legislators distanced themselves from Aiyar, with some calling him "irrelevant and frustrated." So much so that even one of the party spokespersons went to the extent of terming him a "sleeper cell of BJP."
A short clip from a very long two-and-a-half-hour interview that went viral captures Mani Shankar Aiyar making these remarks, "He is a pilot. He has failed twice. I was with him at Cambridge. He failed there. And failing in Cambridge is very difficult. It is easy to get a first-class. This is because the university wants to maintain its image and tries to ensure everyone at least passes. Then he went to Imperial College, London, and failed again. So I thought how can such a person be Prime Minister?" However, the excerpt from the interview, which aired on the YouTube portal The Ewer (Chill-Pill), fails to present the complete context.
Mr. Aiyar was responding to a query as to whether Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, had the competence and the gravitas to be the leader of the Congress party, make important decisions, and strategize effectively. While answering, he referred to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, mentioning how she had been ridiculed as "gungi gudiya" (dumb doll) earlier and had later turned into a dominant political figure. Moving on to his son, Rajiv Gandhi, Aiyar quoted his academic failure and initial doubts about his elevation as Prime Minister. He further added, "But I now say he was an excellent Prime Minister." The Gandhi family loyalist then brought up Rajiv Gandhi’s widow, Sonia Gandhi, noting how she was initially labeled a foreigner when she entered politics but eventually established herself as a significant force in Indian politics.
He further admitted that he was unaware of how Rahul Gandhi operated or made decisions. "But I know their family history. That tells me they may seem incapable initially, but a change comes when they face challenges and show their capability. So we will see," he said.
The widely circulated short clip, however, selectively highlights only Mr. Aiyar’s remark about Rajiv Gandhi’s academic failures.
Sharing the video, senior BJP leader Amit Malviya remarked, "Rajiv Gandhi struggled academically, even failing at Cambridge, where passing is relatively easy. He then moved to Imperial College London but failed there as well... Many questioned how someone with his academic record could become the Prime Minister. Let the veil be stripped."
When the leaders of Congress were prompted to react to the viral video, they fell upon personal insults of Mr. Aiyar, who has repeatedly placed the party in an embarrassing situation with his spontaneous statements.
Congress senior leader Harish Rawat brushed aside Aiyar as a "frustrated man" and came to the defense of Rajiv Gandhi, highlighting his contribution towards providing the nation a modern vision.
"He took concrete steps for the liberalisation of the economy as well. Unfortunately, a section of the party (Congress) did not stand with him, or else the country's history would have been something else," said Mr Rawat.
Congress MP Tarique Anwar said, "Failing is not a big deal; even the best people fail sometimes. But he did not fail in politics. When he was given the responsibility and became Prime Minister, I believe there have been very few Prime Ministers in our country who have achieved as much in just five years."
When asked what advice he would give Rahul Gandhi if given the chance to mentor him, Mr. Aiyar simply laughed."I have been ready to mentor him for 20 years. He does not want it. He dislikes me. And who am I to impose my opinion on him?"
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