Mani Shankar Aiyar found himself in hot water after referring to the 1962 India-China war as an “alleged Chinese invasion” while sharing an anecdote. Following the backlash, Aiyar promptly issued an “unreserved apology” for the unintended use of the term “alleged” before the ‘Chinese invasion’.
The BJP seized upon the opportunity, criticizing the Congress for what they termed as “revisionism,” citing historical instances of alleged concessions to China. BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya accused the Congress of attempting to gloss over China’s invasion and subsequent occupation of Indian territory.
In response to the controversy, the Congress distanced itself from Aiyar’s statement, emphasizing the reality of the Chinese invasion in 1962 and subsequent incursions in Ladakh. Party leader Jairam Ramesh reiterated the seriousness of the events and highlighted Aiyar’s apology, attributing any misstep to his age.
Aiyar’s propensity for controversy was further highlighted by a viral video from an old interview where he suggested engaging in dialogue with Pakistan out of respect for its nuclear capabilities, drawing mixed reactions from the public.
