"Should relocate to Pakistan": UP Deputy CM hits out over Mani Shankar Aiyar's Pak remarks

After Sam Pitroda's statement on colour discrimination, Congress leader Aiyar on Friday found himself at the centre of fresh controversy after a clip of him saying Pakistan is a nation and suggesting that India should engage in dialogue with them went viral.

Reacting to the same, the Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister said, "All these Congressmen are fearful after seeing the crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Those who do not trust the Indian Army, who do not trust the world's most capable weapons storehouse, should live in Pakistan instead of living in India."

In an April 15 interview with 'Chill Pill', Aiyar said, "Pakistan is a respected nation that also possesses an atom bomb so India must enter into a dialogue with them".

The Congress leader's statement caused a stir and invited responses from many leaders across the political spectrum.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Congress over Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks and asserted that every inch of PoJK belongs to India and no force can snatch it.

Addressing an election rally in Jharkhand's Khunti, Amit Shah said that instead of taking back PoJK from Pakistan during their regime, Congress is scaring the people of India by talking about the atom bomb.

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar also slammed the Congress over its party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks, asserting "this is a new Bharat" and "wouldn't be scared away".

Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan took a jibe at the opposition party over Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks and said that leaders of the INDI alliance lost their intelligence and wisdom.

Meanwhile, the Congress has distanced itself from Mani Shankar Aiyar's pro-Pakistan comments.

Congress candidate from North West Delhi Lok Sabha seat, Udit Raj said that Shankar does not hold the official position in the party and that his remarks are personal.

In a post on X, All India Congress Committee media department chairman Pawan Khera wrote, "Indian National Congress dissociates itself completely from and disagrees totally with some remarks made by Mani Shankar Aiyar a 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. Aiyer does not speak for the party in any capacity whatsoever."

"The Indian National Congress and indeed the entire nation recalls with pride that in Dec 1971 Pakistan was broken and an independent Bangladesh emerged thanks to Indira Gandhi's decisive and determined leadership and the valor of our armed forces," the post further reads. (ANI)