Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has apologised after his remarks regarding the Chinese invasion of 1962 ignited a controversy.
Aiyar, during an event at the Foreign Correspondents Club on Tuesday evening, said "In October 1962, the Chinese allegedly invaded India" while sharing an anecdote. The video of the event went viral soon, with the BJP calling it a "brazen attempt at revisionism".
BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya, sharing the video on X, slammed Aiyar and the Congress party.
#WATCH | Delhi: At the book launch of 'Nehru's First Recruits', Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar says, "... In October 1962, the Chinese allegedly invaded India. On the day that Tawang fell, the foreign service exams began in London. When they were over, the newspapers used to… pic.twitter.com/BiNnvayyqr
— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2024
"Mani Shankar Aiyar, speaking at the FCC, during the launch of a book called Nehru's First Recruits, refers to the Chinese invasion in 1962 as 'alleged'. This is a brazen attempt at revisionism," the BJP leader said on X.
"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," he alleged.
" What explains "Congress's love for the Chinese?" Malviya asked.
However, Aiyar soon issued an apology which read: "I unreservedly apologise for having mistakenly used the word 'alleged' before 'Chinese invasion' at the Foreign Correspondents Club this evening."
After his initial remark triggered a row, Congress distanced itself from Aiyar's statement.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took to X to state that "allowances must be made for his age".
"Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar has subsequently apologised unreservedly for using the term "alleged invasion" mistakenly. 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 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."
Ramesh also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of giving a "clean chit" to the Chinese for their incursions in May 2020. He also reposted his old remarks in which he had accused PM Modi of giving a clean chit to China.
"The outgoing PM, however, gave a clean chit publicly to the Chinese on June 19th 2020, seriously weakening our negotiating position. 2000 sq km of territory including Depsang and Demchok remain out of bounds for Indian troops."
