NEW DELHI: Veteran Congress chief Mani Shankar Aiyar has stirred the pot as soon as extra, asserting that India is mimicking its neighbour Pakistan’s trajectory in direction of spiritual nationalism, purportedly aiming to form ”Bharat” right into a ”Hindu Rashtra.” Addressing an occasion in Lahore on Sunday, Aiyar opined that Pakistan tends to reflect and amplify the gestures of its counterparts, exhibiting extreme heat in response to friendliness and heightened hostility when confronted with animosity.
He expressed admiration for Pakistan, emphasizing the unparalleled heat and hospitality he encountered throughout his visits. ”The Pakistanis, from my expertise, have been the individuals who react maybe overreact to the opposite facet. If we’re pleasant, they’re overfriendly and if we’re hostile, they recover from hostile, ” Aiyar mentioned, in response to a video shared by IANS.
Mani Shankar Aiyar at it once more, praises Pakistan, saying “The Pakistanis, from my expertise, have been the individuals who react maybe overreact to the opposite facet. If we’re pleasant, they’re overfriendly and if we’re hostile, they recover from hostile…” pic.twitter.com/QReRq11FnB
— IANS (@ians_india) February 15, 2024
Aiyar, a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, lauded Pakistan as a nation the place he felt genuinely embraced, highlighting the heat prolonged to him and his partner throughout their keep. He, nonetheless, lamented that ”India is attempting to ape Pakistan in spiritual fundamentalism because it needs to show Bharat into ‘Hindu Rashtra’.”
Reiterating the importance of fostering communication between the 2 nations, Aiyar emphasised the invaluable function of Pakistani residents as property for India. He urged for the upkeep of open channels of dialogue, suggesting the involvement of civil society members, together with businessmen, students, and college students, in facilitating continued interplay past governmental obstacles.
Reflecting on his tenure as Consul Common in Lahore, Aiyar reminisced concerning the amicable relations and care prolonged to him and his partner by the native populace. He underscored the necessity for a nuanced understanding of Pakistan, as elucidated in his ebook ‘Memoirs of a Maverick’, which delves into his experiences showcasing Pakistan’s distinctiveness from prevailing Indian perceptions.
This newest controversy involving Aiyar follows intently on the heels of a latest incident the place his daughter, Suranya Aiyar, drew criticism for her social media publish condemning the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Suranya Aiyar’s publish, expressing solidarity with the Muslim neighborhood towards perceived Hindu nationalist sentiments, sparked public outcry and reignited debates over communal concord in India.
As Aiyar’s statements proceed to impress debate and dissent, they underscore the continuing tensions and ideological divisions inside Indian society.
