The Congress distanced itself from senior party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's controversial remarks advocating dialogue with Pakistan, which resurfaced in an old interview and sparked controversy. Disagreeing with Aiyar's views, the party emphasized that they did not reflect its official stance.
In the viral video, Aiyar suggested that India should engage in talks with Pakistan and accord it due respect, warning against the potential consequences of alienating the neighboring country. This prompted the BJP to criticize the Congress, accusing it of being an apologist for Pakistan and terrorism emanating from its soil.
Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera countered the BJP's allegations by highlighting an old interview with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, where he advocated for avoiding conflicts with China due to its economic significance. Khera reiterated the Congress's commitment to India's national interests and recalled historic moments under Indira Gandhi's leadership, including the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 and India's nuclear capability announcement in 1974.
Aiyar clarified his remarks, stating that the video was from several months ago and accused the BJP of reviving it to deflect attention from other issues. He refused to engage in what he called the BJP's election campaign tactics and directed interested parties to his books for context.
Aiyar's comments came in the wake of similar remarks by National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, who warned about Pakistan's nuclear capabilities earlier in the week.
