Congress Distances Itself From Mani Shankar Aiyar's 'China Allegedly Invaded India' Remark On 1962 War

Mani Shankar Aiyar, while narrating an anecdote, referred to the 1962 India-China war as an "alleged China Invasion".

A political row erupted after Mani Shankar Aiyar referred to the 1962 India-China war as an "alleged China Invasion".

Source : PTI

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar found himself embroiled in another controversy after his "Chinese allegedly invaded India" remark stirred another political row. The Congress leader made the remark during the launch of a book 'Nehru's First Recruits' at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club. 

Aiyar, while narrating an anecdote, referred to the 1962 Sino-India war as an "alleged China Invasion". Following his remarks, the Bharatiya Janata Party lashed out at the Congress over their "love for China" and slammed the controversial remark calling it a "brazen attempt at revisionism".

However, Aiyar later "unreservedly apologised" for "mistakenly" using the word "alleged" before saying Chinese invasion.

BJP's National Information and Technology in-charge Amit Malviya, shared the video where Aiyar can be seen making the controversial remark.

Calling it a "brazen attempt at revisionism", he wrote: "Nehru gave up India’s claim on permanent seat at the UNSC in favour of the Chinese, Rahul Gandhi signed a secret MoU, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation accepted funds from the Chinese Embassy and published reports recommending market access for Chinese companies, based on them, Sonia Gandhi’s UPA opened up Indian market for Chinese goods, hurting MSMEs and now Congress leader Aiyar wants to whitewash the Chinese invasion, post which the Chinese have been in illegal occupation of 38,000 sq km of Indian territory."

"What explains Congress’s love for the Chinese?" Malviya questioned.

Mani Shankar Aiyar, speaking at the FCC, during launch of a book called Nehru’s First Recruits, refers to Chinese invasion in 1962 as ‘alleged’. This is a brazen attempt at revisionism.

Nehru gave up India’s claim on permanent seat at the UNSC in favour of the Chinese, Rahul… pic.twitter.com/Z7T0tUgJiD

— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) May 28, 2024

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted on Tuesday night posted on X saying that the "INC distances itself from Aiyar's original phraseology" adding that the veteran party leader has apologised "unreservedly" for his remarks.

Congress Distances Itself From His Original Phraseology: Jairam Ramesh On Aiyar's Remarks

Jairam Ramesh also said that "allowances must be made for his age," and then went on to launch a counter-attack at PM Modi for giving publicly giving a "clean chit" to China, adding that he "seriously weakened our negotiating position".

Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar has subequently apologised unreservedly for using the term "alleged invasion" mistakenkly. 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… https://t.co/74oXfL1Ur2

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 28, 2024

"2,000 sq km of territory, including Depsang and Demchok, remain out of bounds for Indian troops." the Congress general secretary said.

"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," he said.

Mani Shankar Aiyar & The Pakistan Row

Aiyar's latest remark added to the series of controversial statements that the Congress leader has made in the recent past.

Earlier this month, Aiyar triggered a massive political row after he asked India to respect Pakistan as they have atom bomb power, which they may use against us.

Prime Minister Modi had also slammed Aiyar over his statement and said "time and again, the Congress has tried to scare its own country".

"They talk about Pakistan's bomb, but the condition of Pakistan is such that they don't know how to keep it and they are looking for a buyer to sell their bombs but no one wants to buy them as people know about the quality," PM Modi said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also came down heavily on the Congress leader, saying that the government led by the Prime Minister is not scared of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.

The Congress, at that time too, had distanced itself from Aiyar's remarks, stressing that they did not reflect the party's stance.