Former Indian minister and Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has started a fresh controversy by reportedly saying, during a panel discussion on a Pakistani news channel, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to be removed if talks between the two nations have to resume.
The Congress leader’s comments evoked a sharp response from BJP and RJD, with the saffron outfit saying Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-president Rahul Gandhi should react to this and let the country know their stance on the issue.
The Congress, however, said BJP’s charges were “absolute nonsense” and that Aiyar communicated to the party that he had not said any such thing.
When the anchor of the channel asked what is to be done to end the stalemate in the relations between the two nations, Aiyar responded, “The first and the foremost thing is to remove Modi. Only then can the talks move forward. We have to wait for four more years. They (panelists) are all optimist and that we can move forward when Modi sahab is there, but I don’t think so.”
He further said, “Bring us (the Congress) back to power and remove them. There is no other way (to better the relations). We will remove them, but till then you (Pakistan) have to wait.”
Congress leader Tom Vaddakan said, “This is absolutely nonsense. I have a letter with me written by Mr Aiyer in which he categorically denies saying anything like that. So there is no question of distancing from it.”
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar reacted strongly to the Congress leader’s statement.
“I feel Mani Shankar Aiyar has lost his mental balance to tell so to a Pakistan channel. Aiyar’s statement is not only an insult to the prime minister but also to the nation,” Union Forest and Environment Minister Javadekar told reporters.
The BJP also condemned the statement, calling it worrisome and anti-India.
“What is even more worrisome is that two senior Congress leaders, first Salman Khurshid, who is the former External Affairs Minister, and now Mani Shankar Aiyar, within a week’s span have given such a statement in a nation, which is clearly anti-India,” the BJP leaders said.
To Pakistan Politicians: Please don't waste your time on criticizing India, in our country we have many many 'secular politicians' who can do that job very effectively.
That is why he became an Ex-
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