New Delhi: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks using the term "allegedly attributed to the Chinese invasion of 1962" sparked a political controversy late on Tuesday night with the BJP calling it a "brazen attempt at revisionism".
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Aiyar had later "unreservedly" apologized for "mistakenly" using the term "alleged attack", and that the party had distanced itself from the "original phrase".
Ramesh also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of giving him a "clean chit" for China's intrusion in May 2020.
According to a purported video of an event at the Foreign Correspondents' Club this evening, Aiyar narrated an anecdote, saying, "...in October 1962, the Chinese allegedly invaded India."
Later, in a brief statement, Iyer said, "I sincerely apologize for mistakenly using the word 'alleged' before 'Chinese aggression' at the Foreign Correspondents' Club this evening.,
Aiyar, who has courted controversy with his comments in the past, made the remarks at the launch of the book "Nehru's First Recruits".
BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya criticized the Congress over Aiyar's remarks.
"Speaking at the FCC during the launch of the book Nehru's First Recruits, Mani Shankar Aiyar described the 1962 Chinese invasion as 'alleged', a shameless attempt at revisionism," the BJP leader said on Twitter.
"Nehru gave up India's claim to a permanent seat in the UNSC in favor of the Chinese, Rahul Gandhi signed a secret MoU, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation accepted funding from the Chinese Embassy and recommended market access for Chinese companies. Published reports, based on them, Sonia Gandhi's UPA opened the Indian market to Chinese goods, which caused losses to MSMEs and now Congress leader Aiyar wants to end the Chinese invasion, after which the Chinese annexed 38,000 sq. km of Indian territory. But it has been taken over illegally,” he alleged.
What does "Congress's love for the Chinese" indicate? -Malaviya asked.In the wake of the controversy, Ramesh said, "Allowance should be made for Aiyar's age. The Congress has distanced itself from his original terminology."
He said, "The Chinese invasion of India that began on October 20, 1962 was real. There was also a Chinese intrusion in Ladakh in early May 2020, in which 40 of our soldiers were martyred and the status quo was disrupted."
“However, the outgoing Prime Minister publicly gave a clean chit to China on June 19, 2020, seriously weakening our negotiating position,” Rames said in a post.The 2000 sq km area including Depsang and Demchok is beyond the range of Indian troops."
He also re-posted his old comment in which he had accused PM Modi of giving a clean chit to China.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Aiyar had later "unreservedly" apologized for "mistakenly" using the term "alleged attack", and that the party had distanced itself from the "original phrase".
Ramesh also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of giving him a "clean chit" for China's intrusion in May 2020.
According to a purported video of an event at the Foreign Correspondents' Club this evening, Aiyar narrated an anecdote, saying, "...in October 1962, the Chinese allegedly invaded India."
Later, in a brief statement, Iyer said, "I sincerely apologize for mistakenly using the word 'alleged' before 'Chinese aggression' at the Foreign Correspondents' Club this evening.,
Aiyar, who has courted controversy with his comments in the past, made the remarks at the launch of the book "Nehru's First Recruits".
BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya criticized the Congress over Aiyar's remarks.
"Speaking at the FCC during the launch of the book Nehru's First Recruits, Mani Shankar Aiyar described the 1962 Chinese invasion as 'alleged', a shameless attempt at revisionism," the BJP leader said on Twitter.
"Nehru gave up India's claim to a permanent seat in the UNSC in favor of the Chinese, Rahul Gandhi signed a secret MoU, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation accepted funding from the Chinese Embassy and recommended market access for Chinese companies. Published reports, based on them, Sonia Gandhi's UPA opened the Indian market to Chinese goods, which caused losses to MSMEs and now Congress leader Aiyar wants to end the Chinese invasion, after which the Chinese annexed 38,000 sq. km of Indian territory. But it has been taken over illegally,” he alleged.
What does "Congress's love for the Chinese" indicate? -Malaviya asked.In the wake of the controversy, Ramesh said, "Allowance should be made for Aiyar's age. The Congress has distanced itself from his original terminology."
He said, "The Chinese invasion of India that began on October 20, 1962 was real. There was also a Chinese intrusion in Ladakh in early May 2020, in which 40 of our soldiers were martyred and the status quo was disrupted."
“However, the outgoing Prime Minister publicly gave a clean chit to China on June 19, 2020, seriously weakening our negotiating position,” Rames said in a post.The 2000 sq km area including Depsang and Demchok is beyond the range of Indian troops."
He also re-posted his old comment in which he had accused PM Modi of giving a clean chit to China.
