New Delhi: The BJP claimed on Wednesday that Mani Shankar Aiyar's description of the Chinese attack on India in 1962 as an 'alleged' invasion shows the 'anti-India' mindset of the Congress and is a signal to 'enemy' countries to interfere in the electoral process as the opposition is facing a 'rout'.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that Aiyar could not have made such a statement without the concurrence of Rahul Gandhi and also took a swipe at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for his 'silence' over the issue.
Aiyar had made the remarks at a book launch event on Tuesday, kicking up a row and embarrassing his party and handing over an issue to the BJP for yet another time with his controversial comments.
Aiyar, though, immediately issued an apology to defuse the crisis, while the Congress also distanced itself from the veteran leader.
Bhatia suggested that the Congress has often distanced itself from such controversial remarks of its leaders and said the party should instead distance itself from countries like China.
He noted that the Congress party had signed an MoU with the China's ruling Communist party when the UPA was in power and said the opposition party has not disclosed its details yet.
Rahul Gandhi can betray India but not go against China, Bhatia alleged, and also called the donations given to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation by the Chinese embassy as a 'bribe'.
Published 29 May 2024, 09:40 IST