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BJP spokesperson Gaurab Bhatia on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Congress over Mani Shankar Aiyar's remark on the 1962 India-China war and said that this is an attack on the integrity of India, an insult to every soldier who sacrificed their life for the tricolour.
Addressing a press conference here today, Bhatia said, "Mani Shankar Aiyar says that in 1962 China allegedly invaded India. Can this happen without the approval of Rahul Gandhi and Maillikarjun Kharge who are silent? Why this silence? We all know the relationship between India and China, India has been standing strong with pride showing China its place. At this time, this signal by Congress and Mani Shankar Aiyar shows the anti-India mindset of the Congress party." "This is an attack on the integrity of India. This is an insult to every soldier who sacrificed his life for the tricolour," he added. Further, he said that 1400 Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives in the 1962 war and Mani Shankar Aiyar termed it as an "alleged" attack. "1400 of our soldiers sacrificed their lives in the 1962 war. They fought till their last breath. This was an alleged attack. 1047 of our soldiers were injured and 1700 soldiers went missing. 4000 became prisoners of war. These traitorous words are of Mani Shankar Aiyar but this thinking is of Rahul Gandhi," Bhatia said. "This statement is being given when just a few days ago Mani Shankar Aiyar had said that Pakistan has the atomic bomb. A great festival is going on in our country. Our army is our honour. Why are signals being given to both enemy countries by Congress? Is this happening because the Congress knows that it is about to be wiped out?" the BJP spokesperson added. However, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said today that Aiyar has apologized and the party distances itself from his original phraseology. In a post on X, Jairam said, "Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar has subsequently apologised unreservedly for using the term "alleged invasion" mistakenly. Allowances must be made for his age. The INC distances itself from his original phraseology. The Chinese invasion of India that began on October 20, 1962, was for REAL. So too were the Chinese incursions in Ladakh in early May 2020 in which 20 of our soldiers were martyred and the status quo disturbed." Addressing the press conference on Tuesday, Mani Shankar Aiyar said, "In October 1962, the Chinese allegedly invaded India." Earlier this month, the Congress leader courted controversy after an interview clip of his went viral, wherein he could be heard saying that Pakistan is a "respected nation" that also possesses an atom bomb so India must enter into a dialogue with them. (ANI)
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