New Delhi:
Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has come under fire after he said India must engage in dialogue with Pakistan or the country would end up paying a heavy price. Mr. Aiyar said Pakistan has nuclear bombs that they can drop on India if our governments irritate them.
“You should talk to them. But instead we are increasing our military power. And this only increases tensions. And they have nuclear bombs. What happens if some 'madman' decides to launch bombs (on India),” he said. .
“We have them too, but if some 'madman' decides to drop a bomb on Lahore, it won't take eight seconds for the radiation to reach Amritsar,” he added.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has attacked Mr Aiyar for his comments saying it reflects Congress's 'ideology' for India.
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar shared the video on X and said that “Rahul's Cong ideology is on full display in these elections. Support to and from Pakistan, including offers to give up Siachen. Divided people, lies, abuse and false assurances to poor and vulnerable (sic).”
Rahul's Cong 'idealogy' is on full display in these elections
➡️Support to and from Pakistan including offer to give up Siachen
➡️ Support from and to domestic terrorist organizations and people like SDPI and Yasin Malik
➡️ Rampant corruption and loot intended for poor… pic.twitter.com/UABONLzNFN— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳(Modiyude Kutumbam) (@Rajeev_GoI) May 10, 2024
BJP leader and Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan also took a jibe at Mr Aiyar and said the Congress leader should be treated somewhere as Pakistan is currently struggling for food.
“Right now, Pakistan is collecting food grains for itself. They are facing a food crisis… Mani Shankar Aiyar should get himself treated somewhere. This is not Congress's India. India is very powerful. This is the Prime Minister's India. Modi,” Kishan said.
The Congress leader's comments come just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other top BJP leaders warned that Indian troops would invade Pakistan to kill any escaped terrorist.
“During the Congress regime, headlines were about India handing over another dossier on terror activities to Pakistan. That used to be big news. Nowadays, India no longer sends files. Aaj Bharat ghar mein ghus ke marta hai (Today India eliminates terrorists on their home turf),” Prime Minister Modi said at an election rally in Latur in Maharashtra.