‘I am not a Rahulian’: Congress rift blows up as Mani Shankar Aiyar goes on name-calling spree | India News
New Delhi: Mani Shankar Iyer BR Ambedkar was invoked on Monday after the Congress distanced itself from praising the former Union minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in Kerala ahead of assembly elections.Iyer quipped while talking to news agency ANI Rahul GandhiSays he is a Gandhian but not a “Rahulian”.
Citing Ambedkar’s biography “A Part Apart”, Iyer said, “There is a biography of Dr Ambedkar that says ‘A Part Apart.’ So that’s the only thing I can say. Mr. Rahul Gandhi has forgotten that I am a party member, and therefore I am a Gandhian, I am a Nehruvian, I am a Rajivian, but I am not a Rahulian.”“I am Congress partyI never left it. If Pawan Khera is going to fire me, I will happily go out and kick his behind after I leave,” he added.Iyer also said that he has “absolutely no disdain” for Pawan Khera.“Do you think the people of Kerala don’t know what is going on under Congress leadership? At least Pinarayi’s government has discipline. They don’t have Mani Shankar Iyer. I am Mani Shankar Aiyar because Nehru was rebel against Gandhi, Subhash Bose was rebel against Gandhi. Yet Gandhi promoted Jawaharlal Nehru in India. On 17 August 1945, I am sure he would have become the President of India, so how can they deal with someone like Pawan Khera as official spokesperson. does,” said Mani Shankar Iyer.He also described Pawan Khera as a “puppet” who repeats what party MP Jairam Ramesh tells him. He said Khera was not a spokesperson but a “parrot”.“I want you to send a message to Pawan Khera. He has tied up with MA Baby in Delhi and he is getting annoyed to tie up with me. Pinarayi Vijayan How is he here in Congress? After all, how stupid can a party be than making Pawan Khera its spokesperson? There are a million people in Congress who would make better spokespeople. This chap is just a puppet, saying whatever Jairam Ramesh tells him. He repeats the same thing, he is not a spokesperson, he is a parrot,” Iyer said.Aiyar also slammed Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, saying, “Can you imagine the state of a party that elevates Rahul Gandhi to the level of Sardar Patel like KC Venugopal? That’s all I have to say in reply.”Earlier on Sunday, Aiyar created fresh controversy after praising Vijayan and expressing hope for the return of the Left government in the upcoming assembly elections.Addressing an international seminar on “Vision 2031: Development and Democracy”, Iyer asked Vijayan to “pick up the baton that the Congress has dropped”.“I don’t know if it is a compliment or an insult, but I deeply regret the absence of my party colleagues on this occasion, which is a state occasion and therefore a national occasion. Though Kerala is the first state in Panchayati Raj, it is second in law,” Ayer said.“So, in the presence of the Chief Minister, whom I am confident will continue in office, I renew my plea — to strengthen Kerala as the best Panchayati Raj state in the country. So, Chief Minister Vijayan, I must fall at your feet and request you to pick up the baton that the Congress has dropped. Thank you, and may Kerala prosper,” he added.Iyer’s comments did not sit well with the party. Congress national spokesperson Khera sought to distance the party from the comments, saying that Aiyar had nothing to do with the Congress for the past few years.In a post on X, Khera said that Iyer “speaks and writes according to his personal ability.”“Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar has nothing to do with the Congress for the last few years. He speaks and writes purely in his personal capacity,” Khera said.Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh also denied Aiyar’s comments, saying the United Democratic Front (UDF) is set to return to power in Kerala.“No doubt. People of Kerala will bring back UDF for more responsible and responsive governance. They know Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are secret partners,” he said.
